1. Pirates

2. Who Were Pirates? • Scum of society, today’s 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

3. Famous Pirates • Blackbeard– Edward Teach, sailed from the Carolinas to Florida, home on Ocracroke • 6’6, muscular, long black beard with incense, dreadlocks, tan, married 14 times • Ship was the Queen Anne’s Revenge

4. 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

5. Anne Bonny and Mary Read– female pirates, dressed like men • Calico Jack– colorful colors • Henry Morgan– Caribbean • Bartholomew Roberts- Black Bart, didn’t drink, prayer, plundered 400 ships • Stede Bonnett- rich before, bored with life, incompetent pirate

6. 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

7. 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

8. Discipline with a whip, arguments decided by 1st blood • Walking plank didn’t happen, often marooned or just tossed into ocean • Flags used to frighten, pirates avoided fights if possible