The document discusses the Barbary pirates, who lived on the Barbary Coast of North Africa and attacked ships in the Mediterranean. They flew the Jolly Roger flag and were also known as Arabs, Moors, Berbers, or Barbarians. The United States had to deal with the Barbary pirates demanding tribute under the presidencies of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson. The U.S. Marines were sent in and eventually destroyed the Barbary pirates in Tripoli.