The 1796 Treaty of Tripoli was Congress's response to the pirating of American ships in the Mediterranean. Drafted by Jefferson's friend and colleague, Joel Barlow, the treaty stated emphatically that "the government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion, as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility of Musselmen."xvi

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion