The Barbary Wars were two conflicts fought between the United States and the Barbary States of North Africa, primarily from 1801 to 1805 and again from 1815 to 1816. These wars arose from issues related to piracy and the demand for tribute by the Barbary States, which included Tripoli, Algiers, and Tunis. American merchant ships were frequently attacked, leading to the need for military action to protect U.S. interests. The first conflict, known as the First Barbary War, was initiated under President Thomas Jefferson, who sought to end the practice of paying tribute. The second conflict, the Second Barbary War, aimed to reinforce U.S. naval power and assert American rights. Both wars helped establish the United States as a formidable naval power and marked a significant moment in its early foreign policy.