In the 1760s, Great Britain was getting tired of pirates and all the problems they brought.

Along with this came the Golden Age of Piracy. Governments began to realize that piracy was hurting their goals. Pirates no longer needed to defend Jamaica, so they had no defensive purpose. Now Spain turned to a new focus, which was to build up. New colonies would help with this idea. They would bring in money and the tools that Spain didnt already have. The policy of no peace beyond the line was abandoned and piracy began to slur. Pardons were given to pirates who would give up their life of piracy but a threat came along with it. Pirate hunters received 100 for captains and 20 for commoners. That was pretty big money, seeing as though merchant captains earned \65 a year. As agriculture on the islands became agricultural, support for pirates began to sway. If they continued as pirates, life wasnt hospitable in Jamaica anymore. Even the merchants werent very nice. Increases in the number of navy ships made it more difficult. Later the amount of ships increased again. As the government put their foot down, pirates moved to safer havens like the Pacific or Indian Oceans. Others went to places like the Bahamas and American colonies. The extermination of pirates was not quick. The Nine Years War and the War of the Spanish Succession gave pirates a cloak of legitimacy. Moreover, they caused unemployment increasing the number of people turning to piracy. The Navy disposed of some 36,000 people! Thats almost 75 percent of its war complement. Wages were cut over 50 percent. Piracy was the best alternative. At first, France did not oblige. Instead, attack increased. Then, in 1683, Grammont attacked Vera Cruz and enraged Spain, who declared war. France quickly negotiated and France agreed to abandon the no peace beyond the line doctrine. French pirates supported France during the Nine Years War. French buccaneer Jean du Casse burned 50 sugar plantations and captured over 1300 slaves. With the loss of a base in Jamaica, many buccaneers drifted north to Bahamas or American colonies. The Bahamas had been piracy

needed to survive. They were near the two primary outlets of the Atlantic giving them an advantage. It was also privately owned but was later sold to 6 proprietors in South Carolina. The conditions in the Bahamas began to facilitate piracy. The population was low, though. This made their market poor for the pirates. Despite limitations, the Bahamas were a safe haven. The American colonies were also a safe haven. Many governors were already involved with piracy. Many colonists already purchased cheap, stolen goods. The governors of the Bahamas also allowed pirates to bribe them. Trott offered the governor of Jamaica a 20000 bribe for a pardon. The governor refused and he disappeared. During the end of the 17th century, pirates were everywhere in the American colonies. Almost all the sea colonies were involved with it. Almost everyone dealt with them so they were hard to prosecute. Most English colonies were involved too. It was considered pirate capital. Pirates sentenced for hanging could avoid with a fine. Pirates contributed greatly to the economy of mid-Atlantic colonies. They put more than 100000 a year into New York. The New York guard ship captain was even in league with pirates. Lieutenant Governor William Markham supposedly so protection to pirates, which was not uncommon, because many governors got away with it. Pirates found refuge in other colonies also, particularly the south. They were welcomed in South Carolina until they started sacking South Carolinian ships. Charleston was a very easy target especially, because of the sand bar. North Carolina was relatively poor and welcomed pirates and their treasures. Piracy was finally eliminated in the West Indies. This was done by the Royal Navy. The laws against piracy also took effect. Courthouses made it easier to hang pirates. Eventually, piracy on the American coast was eliminated. The two most famous pirates, Blackbeard and Captain Kidd, can show these points. Kidd was more a privateer than a pirate. He got caught up and was hanged falsely. He was well known and a respected man. He lived in New York along with his wife and kids. He

was allowed to capture all French shipping anywhere. He was doomed from the beginning. As he was leaving London, some of his men went into the Royal Navy. As a pirate hunter, he never captured any pirates. He captured two ships, but they were legal prizes. The second, though, angered the East India Company. He was unaware of this though. He burned his first prize and transferred the goods to the second ship. Most of his crew turned to piracy and remained in the Indian Ocean. The rest returned home with Kidd. He found out he was declared a pirate. Kidd was a victim of domestic politics. He had no one in his defense. He was convicted of piracy and murdering a crew member. He was hung on 23 may 1701. Blackbeards career was just as shortlived. He captured few rich prizes and never harmed captives. Like Kidd, he started a privateer. He got under the command of a man named Benjamin Hornigold. He saw what Teach could do and gave him command of a sloop. They later parted and he captured 15 ships in a two week period. He moved north because of the arrival of Royal Navy ships. After resting and fitting in NC he set sail again. His crew had grown to 400 men with 4 ships. He then blockaded Charleston and left with only a chest of medicine. He remained in NC for several months, got married and lived lavishly. When money got scarce, he captured a ship carrying sugar. He claimed he found the ship wrecked and just took over. His luck ran out in November 1718. The increased navy in the West Indies also sped up the demise of pirates. They began stationing

more ships until the job was complete.