Constitutional War Powers: Thomas Jefferson and the Barbary Pirates

When President Thomas Jefferson took office in 1801, he inherited a problem in the Mediterranean–pirates kept hijacking US merchant ships and demanding ransom. Abraham D. Sofaer of the Hoover Institution explains how Jefferson dealt with the Barbary pirates and how his actions should inform our thinking about separation of powers as it relates to issues of war. As always, the Federalist Society takes no particular legal or public policy positions. All opinions expressed are those of the speaker. Learn more about Abraham D. Sofaer, George P. Shultz Distinguished Scholar and Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution: https://www.hoover.org/profiles/abrah…