To augment the small U.S. Navy during the Quasi-War with France, private citizens funded the construction of well-designed and solidly built warships to protect American property at sea. The voluntary funding and admirable performance of these nine frigates and sloops-of-war calls into question the public goods rationale for coercive taxation for maritime defense.
Privately Funded and Built U.S. Warships in the Quasi-War of 17971801
By Larry J. Sechrest
This
article
appeared in
the Summer 2007 issue of The Independent Review.