Date of Award
12-22-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
History
First Advisor
Mary Beth Ailes
Committee Members
James Rohrer; Mary Beth Ailes; Pradeep Barua
Keywords
Atlantic World;Colonial America;Early Modern;Eighteenth Century;Piracy;Seventeenth Century
Abstract
Pirates during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries experienced the height of Atlantic piracy. The Golden Age of Piracy caused major political problems for the British overseas colonies and constituted revisions in colonial governance. Piracy during this period began as buccaneers who worked for the state during wartime as privateers and rogues during peacetime. This group changed however, by the end of the seventeenth century had transitioned into pirates, attacking any and all shipping around the colonies regarless of origin. This group forced Parliaments’ hand to act against them and implement anti-piracy laws throughout the empire. However, the War of Spanish Succession held most of Parliaments’ attention and the war on piracy slipped through the cracks. This allowed pirates almost free reign around the empire and it was not until the war had ended and resources were available that colonial governments could fight pirates effectively. By the late 1710s and 1720s, Parliament was able to allocate more funds and naval ships to assist in hunting down and capturing pirates. By the end of the 1720s, the pirates had been chased and executed bringing about the end of the Golden Age of Piracy and the maritime superiority of the British Empire.
Recommended Citation
Knuth, Nicholas, "Enemies of All Mankind: Piracy in the British Atlantic World, 1680 to 1730" (2023). History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity. 40.
https://openspaces.unk.edu/hist-etd/40