Pirates

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Pirates
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Who Were Pirates?

• Scum of society, todays gangsters
• Originally honest sailors, pirating more and
  excitement
• Pirates who attacked ships often gave crews a
  choice of death, stranding, or join them
• Some pirates were privateers cheap navy for
  countries

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Famous Pirates

• Blackbeard Edward Teach, sailed from the
  Carolinas to Florida, home on Ocracroke
• 66, muscular, long black beard with incense,
  dreadlocks, tan, married 14 times
• Ship was the Queen Annes Revenge

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• 2 straps across chest, 6 pistols and 6 daggers
• Beat up crew, games to intimidate
• Wounded 25 times, head cut off, legend says his
  body swam around boat 7 times

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• Anne Bonny and Mary Read female pirates, dressed
  like men
• Calico Jack colorful colors
• Henry Morgan Caribbean
• Bartholomew Roberts- Black Bart, didnt drink,
  prayer, plundered 400 ships
• Stede Bonnett- rich before, bored with life,
  incompetent pirate

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Pirate Ships

• Most were stolen, few built to be pirate ships
• Decks leveled for fighting, more cannons
• Fast with skilled crews
• Famous ones Sudden Death, Flying Dragon,
  Fortune, Sea King

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Life as a Pirate

• Captain often elected by crew, often re-elected
  due to intimidation, always risk of mutiny
• Captain had own cabin, crew slept on deck or
  below
• Life could be exciting at times, mostly hard and
  uncomfortable
• Quartermaster in charge of all stolen goods,
  supplies, rum
• Sailing master- in charge of navigation

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• Discipline with a whip, arguments decided by 1st
  blood
• Walking plank didnt happen, often marooned or
  just tossed into ocean
• Flags used to frighten, pirates avoided fights if
  possible