This is Part Two of this short series on piracy in the American colonies. If you would like to learn more about the origins of piracy and the average life of a pirate, please check out Episode 18.

Piracy arose quickly in the American colonies as a menace to polite society. From plantation raids, to ships taken at sea, and even a blockade of a whole colony, the pirates had their way. This rise came after the chaos of the two early wars left thousands of sailors adrift. With nothing to offer the economy, they turned to what they knew best: the sea.

Under the tutelage of Benjamin Hornigold, a whole cadre of pirates—Charles Vane, John Rackham, Sam Bellamy, and even Blackbeard himself—began to prowl the seas. They took what they wanted and never looked back. That is, until the English crown realized the damage they had wrought. There are stories abound throughout the Caribbean during this golden age of piracy.

Now hoist your sails, grab your muskets, and raise your colors and join me as we fill in those missing pages…

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Music

Intro: Fractured Timeline - Sémø

Outro: Spanish Ladies - HillTopTrio

Sources

Under the Black Flag - David Cordingly

Black Flags, Blue Waters - Eric Jay Dolin

The Republic of Pirates - Colin Woodard

American Colonies - Alan Taylor

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com