Shipping Quotes
There was a time when American business was not particularly interested in foreign markets. The entire nation was much more isolationist then.
Most Americans do not realize that our naval forces were disbanded after the Revolution and even the Constitution did not require a navy. We had some Federal revenue cutters to interdict smugglers but no warships and no permanent sailors or officers. The Barbary Pirates had an incredible extortion racket going in the Mediterranean. If nations would pay them an annual sum each year, they would not attack and seize merchant ships of that country and sell the ships and goods while holding the sailors for ransom. See {640850},86703,{640846} & {640848}
While many use the invention and development of the Steamboat as an example of breakthrough technology by private enterprise, the reality was that Fulton and Livingston could not raise the private capital to develop the vessels and start operating them until the State government stepped in and granted them a monopoly for 20 years in the waters of the entire state of New York including the Hudson River and New York Harbor. This was one of the first examples of “corporate welfare” and subsidies for development of new technology. Fulton’s company used the courts to enjoin anyone else from operating a steamboat, and Fulton could charge very high rates as he had no competition thanks to New York State. Other boat operators then went to New Jersey which passed its own allowing anyone stopped by NY courts to sue Fulton & Livingston for triple damages. The lower Hudson River and New York Harbor was on the shores of BOTH states and each had an equal claim to jurisdiction. The Supreme Court settled the dispute in one of the major legal cases in American history. See {624485}
Adams urged paying tribute to the Barbary Pirates who had an incredible extortion racket going in the Mediterranean. If nations would pay them an annual sum each year, they would not attack and seize merchant ships of that country and sell the ships and goods while holding the sailors for ransom. Most of the European powers were paying the annual tribute as they calculated that it was cheaper than patrolling the Mediterranean with warships or going to war with the Barbary States. More important for Adams was that he did not think that the country would support such a military action. See {640847} That was Adams’ thinking. Jefferson however, sent our Navy and Marines to our first foreign war, and they were very effective. However, despite the American military victories, and because of the inability for the European powers to collaborate and share the burden of naval patrol, the United States went back to the craven policy of paying the blackmail. See {640846} & {640848}.
While many use the invention and development of the Steamboat as an example of breakthrough technology by private enterprise, the reality was that Fulton and Livingston could not raise the private capital to develop the vessels and start operating them until the State government stepped in and granted them a monopoly for 20 years in the waters of the entire state of New York including the Hudson River and New York Harbor. This was one of the first examples of “corporate welfare” and subsidies for development of new technology. Fulton’s company used the courts to enjoin anyone else from operating a steamboat, and Fulton could charge very high rates as he had no competition thanks to New York State. Other boat operators then went to New Jersey which passed its own allowing anyone stopped by NY courts to sue Fulton & Livingston for triple damages. The lower Hudson River and New York Harbor was on the shores of BOTH states and each had an equal claim to jurisdiction. The Supreme Court settled the dispute in one of the major legal cases in American history. See {624486}
Churchill was then First Lord of the Admiralty. The German sinking of the Lusitania indeed did provoke America into the war.
Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier. The Barbary Pirates had an incredible extortion racket going in the Mediterranean. If nations would pay them an annual sum each year, they would not attack and seize merchant ships of that country and sell the ships and goods while holding the sailors for ransom.
