[Cheburashka]

Makes me even prouder that the US did not pay tribute on the “shores of Tripoli”.

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The U.S did pay tribute until 1815. An example from the Avalon Project, a collection of treaties made by the United States and other countries.

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/bar1795t.asp

Treaty of Peace and Amity, Signed at Algiers September 5, 1795

ARTICLE YE 22d

On the 21st of ye Luna of Safer 1210 corrisponding with the 5th September 1795 Joseph Donaldson Junr on the Part of the United States of North America agreed with Hassan Bashaw Dey of Algiers to keep the Articles Contained in this Treaty Sacred and inviolable which we the Dey & Divan Promise to Observe on Consideration of the United States Paying annually the Value of twelve thousand Algerine Sequins (1) in Maritime Stores Should the United States forward a Larger Quantity the Over-Plus Shall be Paid for in Money by the Dey & Regency any Vessel that may be Captured from the Date of this Treaty of Peace & Amity shall immediately be deliver’d up on her Arrival in Algiers.

In 1815, after the Treaty of Ghent ending the War of 1812, an American squadron commanded by Stephen Decatur sailed back to the Mediterranean and sailed to Algiers, Tunisia, and Tripoli in succession, demanding an end to future attacks on American shipping - there had been no American shipping in the Mediterranean during the war with Britain - and the abolition of the tribute payments made by the United States. These actions by the American fleet so inspired Europe that the European powers decided to end the paying of tribute by any Europeans as well. In 1816 a British-Dutch fleet sailed to Algiers and leveled the fortifications of the city and received the assurance of the ruler of Algiers that he and his citizens would no longer engage in piracy. Following the example made at Algiers, Tunisia and Tripoli soon agreed to end their pirate raids as well.

The U.S. can be proud that it stood up to the Barbary pirates and ended attacks on its citizens and shipping in 1815, but until that time it had been forced to pay tribute, just like any other country that wanted to trade in the Mediterranean.

Just to set the historical record straight.

[Tainan]

A bit of info (humor) from the linked article comments section:

I should add that Sweden was potentially close to success in one of its raids on Norway after they got hold of some dynamite.
The raiders were throwing the sticks over the Norwegian fort walls.

However, the Norwegians quickly discovered that if they lit the fuses and threw the sticks back, they were much more effective.

[DeaconBenjamin]

The U.S. stopped paying tribute to Tripoli in 1801. Tripoli declared war in May 1801. Jefferson sent a squadron of 3 frigates and a schooner to Tripoli. On October 31, 1803, the frigate Philadelphia went aground off the port of Tripoli and was taken by Tripolitanians, capturing the crew and officers. The captured Philadelphia was burnt by a crew led by Stephen Decatur on February 16, 1804. The war ended by treaty in 1805 with no tribute, per se, but payment of $60,000 to ransom the officers and crew of the Philadelphia.

The book is unclear as to the extent, if any, tribute was paid between 1805 and 1815.

Incidentally, Algiers, Tripoli, and Morocco were essentially different jurisdictions at the time.

Source: Six Frigates, an early history of the US Navy.