Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- "ICONIC" NAVAL IMAGES --

Establishing the Unites States Navy, 1783-1812

Brief text setting theme(s) and basic message for this page. Maximum of about 50-100 words in two or three paragraphs.

.

This page features a selection of iconic naval images from the American Revolution of 1775-1783.

Click the small photographs to prompt a medium resolution view of the same image, the words "hi-res" to bring up a high-resolution JPG reproduction, and the words "Picture Data" to access the Picture Data Sheet for that image.

CREATING A NAVY

"An Act to Provide a Naval Armament", December 1793: HI-RES Picture Data

Commodore John Barry, United States Navy: HI-RES Picture Data

After the War for Independence, American commerce was increasingly attacked by Barbary (North African) corsairs. To fight this menace, the first steps were taken to form a Navy. Congress authorized construction of six large cruisers ("frigates"). Six former Continental Navy officers were appointed to command them. John Barry was the senior Captain.

THE QUASI-WAR WITH FRANCE, 1798-1801

To avoid fighting an expensive war, the United States met the Barbary states' demands for "tribute" payments. The American frigate-building program was slowed or stopped. However, the warring nations of Europe, especially France and Great Britain began their own attacks on defenceless American commercial shipping. The U.S. set up a Navy Department and resumed frigate construction. France was particularly agressive, and the U.S. acquired more warships and a sharp undeclared war began in the western Atlantic and the West Indies. In three years, many French warships, privateers and merchantmen were captured. A peace treaty was signed in 1801.

Action between U.S. Frigate Constellation and French Frigate Insurgente, February 1799 HI-RES Picture Data

THE BARBARY WARS, 1801-1805

Burning the frigate Philadelphia, February 1804: HI-RES Picture Data

Text about the first stages of the Barbary Wars, and the appointment of Edward Preble to command. Maximum length about 50 words.

Commodore Edward Preble, United States Navy: HI-RES Picture Data

Bombardment of Tripoli by Commodore Preble's squadron, August 1804: HI-RES Picture Data

Text about the bombardment of Tripoli and subsequent events in the Barbary Wars. Maximum length about 50 words.

Decatur Boarding the Tripolitan Gunboat, August 1804: HI-RES Picture Data

NOTES:

To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

Some images linked from this page bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".

If you want other reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

Page IN WORK 20 February 2009