Jefferson 1800 Second Great Awakening begins. Gabriel Prosser's plans for slave rebellion in Virginia foiled, he and thirty-five others were executed . D.C. Virginian Thomas Jefferson became the third president of the United States after having served as Washington's secretary of State. He was one of the most versatile and brilliant men of his day.
Tripoli declares war on the United States.
Jefferson determined to respond with force. The War lasted until 1805 and was fought by American naval forces off the coast of North Africa. In the last stages of the war, William Easton led a land expedition against Tripoli. After this expedition captured Derna, Tripoli agreed to make peace, but the United States had to pay ransom for American prisoners of war. Dangers still from the corsairs continued, but in 1815 the United States declared war on Algiers.