The Real Pirates of the Caribbean 8 th

The Real Pirates of the Caribbean 8 th Grade Social Studies

? Brainstorm? n List 10 things you know about pirates. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Piracy n Pirate’s Code Many Pirates in the Caribbean actually began on privateers. A Privateer is ship privately owned and crewed but authorized by a government during wartime to attack and capture enemy vessels. n Piracy is the practice of robbery or illegal violence at sea. n A pirate code was a code of conduct invented for governing pirates. Generally each pirate crew had its own code or articles, which provided rules for discipline, division of stolen goods, and compensation for injured pirates. n

How did it start in the Caribbean? n n Two Wars: First: Thirty Year’s War? – 1618 -1648 – War between German, English and Dutch Protestants fighting for control of land from Roman Catholics from Spain, France and Italy n Historians mark the beginning of the Caribbean Piracy at around 1650, when the end of the Thirty Year War allowed European countries to resume the development of their colonies in the Caribbean

Where did the Pirates come From? n Second: Queen Anne’s War – 1702 -1713 – Spain and France fought against England the Netherlands for possession of land in North America. Most of the Pirates of the Caribbean were former English, and Dutch sailors or privateers who had been fighting for possession of the Caribbean Islands and Hispaniola. n After losing in Queen Anne’s War English and Dutch sailors were disgraced and could not return home. Many of them turned to piracy as a way to survive. n

Pirates of the Caribbean n Bases of operation n Port Royal: Because Spain controlled most of the Caribbean, many of the attacked cities and ships belonged to the Spanish Empire. n Pirates needed some sort of base. The most well-known were New Providence in the Bahamas, Tortuga off the coast of Costa Rica and Port Royal in Jamaica. n Pirates used weapons to fire on, or commandeer other ships. ** n

Famous (or Infamous) Pirates Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart) n § Black Bart’s Flag n Black Bart was the most successful pirate of his time, with the capture of 456 ships and over 50 million Pounds of loot between 1719 -1722. Unlike most pirates he drank a lot of tea instead of alcohol, and forbid gambling. He preferred to wear fancy gentleman's clothes: a rich crimson waistcoat and breeches, a hat with a red feather, and a diamond cross hanging from his neck.

More Black Bart n End of Black Bart’s Piracy n A legendary 30 -month career came to an end on February 10, 1722, when the warship HMS Swallow caught up with Bart. In the ensuing battle he was killed. His crew threw his body overboard as he had always requested. Why?

Famous (or Infamous) Pirates n Anne Bonny When she was sixteen years old, Anne fell in love with small -time pirate, James Bonny. n Bonny took Anne to New Providence where she left him and fell in love with another pirate, Calico Jack Rackham. n She assumed control of Rackham’s ship and embarked on a series of plunders with Rackham and another love interest of hers, Mary Read. n

More Anne Bonny n End of Bonnys Piracy In October 1720, Bonny and her crew were attacked by a "King's ship", out of Jamaica. Most of the pirates on board did not put up much resistance as many of them were reportedly too drunk to fight. However, Read, and Bonny fought fiercely and managed to hold off the ship for a short time. The crew were taken to Jamaica, where they were convicted and sentenced by the Governor of Jamaica to be hanged. After being sentenced, Read and Bonny both "pleaded their bellies”: asking for mercy because they were pregnant. Read died in prison before her execution. There is no historical record of Bonnys release or of her execution. Either: – her father ransomed her – she might have returned to her husband – or she resumed a life of piracy under a new identity. The mystery of Anne Bonny may never be known.

Famous (or Infamous) Pirates Edward Teach (Blackbeard) n Little is known about his early life, but he was a privateer for the English during Queen Anne’s war. n In 1717 he captured the French slave ship La Concorde-a vessel he would keep as his flagship and rename Queen n Anne's Revenge. n Blackbeard was one of the most successful pirates capturing 42 ships in 14 months.

More Blackbeard n Blackbeard is credited with naming the pirate flag: the “Jolly Roger” n In perhaps the most brazen act of his pirate career, Blackbeard blockaded the port of Charleston for nearly a week. The pirates seized several ships attempting to enter or leave the port and detained the crew and passengers of one ship, the Crowley, as prisoners. As ransom for the hostages, Blackbeard demanded that the pirates be given a chest of medicine. The medicines eventually delivered, the captives were released, and the pirates continued their journey around the Caribbean.

Blackbeard’s Decline n End of Blackbeard’s Piracy Blackbeard's life ended when he encountered an armed contingent sent by Virginia Governor Alexander Spotswood and led by Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Maynard. In a desperate battle aboard Maynard's sloop, Blackbeard and a number of his fellow pirates were killed. n His head was attached to the front of the Maynard’s ship as a message to all pirates. ** n

Quick-Write #28 How did piracy begin in the Caribbean and explain whether or not you’d be willing to become a pirate during the age of exploration. Use details from the slideshow to strengthen your answer.