# Why are the Barbary Wars forgotten? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 25, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-barbary-wars-forgotten/610632 "2012-01-25T20:20:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-barbary-wars-forgotten/610632/41 "2012-01-27T13:40:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Plus how many American wars do you hear about in everyday life? Most people’s knowledge of the American Revolution is pretty weak, and even such important conflicts as the War of 1812 and Mexican War have left a pretty weak imprint on the collective memory. Note “everyday life.” Most of us were taught about the Barbary wars at some point–I’m pretty sure they haven’t been “suppressed” by some hidden hand. But lots of people hate history & forget all that crap as soon as possible. Maybe they remember the Brits burned DC in the war of 1812. (But not that we’d previously burned parts of York–now Toronto.) Then Andrew Jackson beat them with the help of Lafitte, down in Louisiana–although the war was officially over by that point. The Mexican War is remembered on both sides of the Border. Pressure about whether the new lands stolen from Mexico would be free or slave helped lead to the Civil War–which _was_ a biggie… But the Barbary wars were all overseas. However, a good historical novel or movie could move them back into “the collective memory.” Or maybe the History Network could sneak a show in during the crap… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-barbary-wars-forgotten/610632.md?page=2)