Notecards
In Humanities, we were assigned to research our colonial topics (mine being pirates) and write a noodle tools note card about it. We have wrote ten note cards, each about different, smaller topics inside of one big topic. I learned how much someone can write about a small topic, and how much information there is in each topic. I was focusing on privateering and what it meant to be a privateer, such as the letter of Marque and Reprisal. Although it is fairly short, it has a good description of what privateering is, and it analyzes the quote well.
Armant L’Heureux
11/3/16
The Letter of Marque and Reprisal
Source:
“Privateering.” United States History , www.u-s-history.com/pages/h629.html. Accessed 3 Nov. 2016.
URL:
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h629.html
Quote:
“Privateering was a wartime practice in which a belligerent power would authorize its citizens to operate privately owned ships in campaigns against enemy shipping. Motivation for participating in these ventures was partly patriotism, but most of the allure came from converting the prizes (captured ships and cargo) into money. Privateers were distinguished from pirates in that the former were issued “letters of marque and reprisal,” official government papers authorizing these campaigns.
Privateering was especially important to nations with small navies, whose activities were thus supplemented. America benefited from this practice in both the War of Independence and the War of 1812 .
Numerous abuses occurred over the years, however. It was often an easy step to turn from preying on belligerent ships to non-belligerent ones. Many privateers found it to be financially rewarding to become pirates.
The practice of privateering was outlawed by the international community in the Declaration of Paris in 1856.”
Paraphrase:
- Privateers’ ships and crew are owned and paid for by themselves, unlike the navy
- Letters of marque and reprisal was license for plundering without punishment
- Privateering was very important for small navies
- Privateers were in both the War of Independence and the War of 1812
- Many privateers ended up being pirates such as William Kidd
- In 1856 privateering was outlawed by Paris
My Ideas:
Privateers would have to buy their own ships, weapons, supplies and crew. They were required to sign the letter of marque and reprisal, which was essentially a contract that allowed for privateers to plunder without punishment, but they had to give some of their spoils to their government. Privateers were used extensively in small navies such as America’s during the revolutionary war, where most of the naval American ships were privateers and merchants. Many successful privateers resorted to piracy such as William Kidd. In 1856, Paris declared it illegal to hire privateers.