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