An Undeclared War
Little known in the annals of military history the Quasi war was an undeclared conflict fought by Revolutionary France on one side, and the United States on the other. It began as a result of the US government's refusal to continue paying it's Revolutionary War debt to France because it was supposedly owed to the French Crown rather than Republican France. Furious at this refusal French privateers began seizing American vessels trading with Great Britain (at war with France at the time). This provoked the rebirth of the United State's Navy which had been disbanded following the termination of War of Independence. The last warships had been sold in 1785. Aside from some cutters, and run-down coastal defences the US had little to combat the French raiders. Congress authorized the Adam's administration to purchase and equip 12 vessels of 22 guns or lower for service in combat. The construction of a frigate (the Congress also resumed)
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