Privateering Informative Essay
Approximately 1,697 letters of Marque were designated to privateer ships in the course of the Revolutionary War, while the Continental Navy had just under 70 ships. Letters of Marque were licenses to ships to legally attack or raid enemy ships, drawing comparisons to legalized piracy. The discrepancy between the letters of Marque, or numbers of privateer ships, and naval vessels makes clear which mode of naval aggression was preferred in the United States; however, privateering was not necessarily a positive for the U.S. The practice of privateering was detrimental to the United States because it stagnated the development of the U.S. Navy, made the U.S. Navy redundant, and ran contrary to American values. Privateering provided unnecessary
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naval force ran contrary to American values. The waters were essentially a free-for-all for any ship captain with a letter of Marque and the urge to make a profit. This opinion was shared by some Americans during the time period. Dr. Solomon Drowne, who worked as a doctor on a privateer, wrote,
Privateering cannot be justified upon the principles of Virtue; though I know it is not repugnant to The Laws of Nations, but rather deemed policy amongst warring powers thus to distress each other, regardless of the suffering of the individual. But however agreeable to, and supportable by the rights of war; yet, when individuals come thus to despoil individuals of their property, 'tis hard: the cruelty then appears, however, political.
Privateers were a common accessory to a country’s navy; Britain, for example, used privateers during the Revolutionary War as well. However, to have them be your primary naval force is to throw your naval defense in a state of anarchy. Locke wrote that government was necessary, as opposed to anarchy, to protect people’s natural rights, one of which is property. To have your country protected by thieves is to throw the idea that property is important to the wind. Clearly, America’s values closely mirrored Locke’s, as is evident in the similarities between Locke’s work and the Declaration. Therefore, the use of privateers as the main American force in the water is a
naval force ran contrary to American values. The waters were essentially a free-for-all for any ship captain with a letter of Marque and the urge to make a profit. This opinion was shared by some Americans during the time period. Dr. Solomon Drowne, who worked as a doctor on a privateer, wrote,
Privateering cannot be justified upon the principles of Virtue; though I know it is not repugnant to The Laws of Nations, but rather deemed policy amongst warring powers thus to distress each other, regardless of the suffering of the individual. But however agreeable to, and supportable by the rights of war; yet, when individuals come thus to despoil individuals of their property, 'tis hard: the cruelty then appears, however, political.
Privateers were a common accessory to a country’s navy; Britain, for example, used privateers during the Revolutionary War as well. However, to have them be your primary naval force is to throw your naval defense in a state of anarchy. Locke wrote that government was necessary, as opposed to anarchy, to protect people’s natural rights, one of which is property. To have your country protected by thieves is to throw the idea that property is important to the wind. Clearly, America’s values closely mirrored Locke’s, as is evident in the similarities between Locke’s work and the Declaration. Therefore, the use of privateers as the main American force in the water is a