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Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/57858
cutters were the only means by which the American coasts, maritime trade, and ships could be protected. Cutters soon became involved in military affairs, which included threats from privateers and pirates.
Cutter Wartime Service When war broke out between Revolutionary France and Britain in 1793, privateers from both sides oper- ated in American waters and preyed upon U.S.- ÁDJJHG VKLSV VRPH HYHQ RSHUDWLQJ RXW RI $PHULFDQ ports.
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that formalized the military role of the cutters, autho- rized the president to employ cutters to defend the VHDFRDVWV DQG PDGH SURYLVLRQV IRU DVVLJQLQJ PDULQHV to cutters.
The act of March 2, 1799, provided that the cutters "shall, whenever the President of the United States shall so direct, cooperate with the Navy of the United 6WDWHV GXULQJ ZKLFK WLPH WKH\ VKDOO EH XQGHU WKH direction of the Secretary of the Navy … ." With the $PHULFDQ GHFODUDWLRQ RI ZDU DJDLQVW %ULWDLQ LQ WKH UHYHQXH FXWWHUV DJDLQ DXJPHQWHG WKH 1DY\ 'XU- LQJ WKH ZDU·V RSHQLQJ SKDVHV 7UHDVXU\ 6HFUHWDU\ $OEHUW *DOODWLQ UHTXHVWHG IURP &RQJUHVV; VPDOO
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bears had at the conclusion of the War of Spanish Suc- cession—they turned to piracy.
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Act to Protect the Commerce of the United States and 3XQLVK WKH &ULPH; RI 3LUDF\ 6HFWLRQ ÀYH RI WKLV OHJLVOD- tion stated, "That if any person or persons whatsoever VKDOO RQ WKH KLJK VHDV FRPPLW WKH FULPH RI SLUDF\ DV GHÀQHG E\ WKH ODZ RI QDWLRQV DQG VXFK RIIHQGHU RU RIIHQGHUV VKDOO DIWHUZDUGV EH EURXJKW LQWR RU IRXQG in the United States, every such offender or offend- ers shall, upon conviction thereof … be punished by death."
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time slave trade as a piratical act, the second made the act perpetual. As a result, the Revenue Cutter Ser- vice, in conjunction with the U.S. Navy and the Royal Navy, commenced a relentless war upon the pirates and privateers.
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7KRXJK WKH FXWWHUV· FRPEDW DFWLRQV ZLWK WKH SLUDWHV DQG SULYDWHHUV ZHUH QRW ODUJH VFDOH HQJDJHPHQWV they were important in the development of the Reve- nue Cutter Service. They were also important in form- LQJ WKH VHUYLFH·V QDWLRQDO GHIHQVH DQG ODZ HQIRUFH- ment missions. As such, they shaped the ethos of the United States Coast Guard as a multi-mission, mari- time, military force.
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