Evaluate the view that men became pirates to escape an unjust society.

Piracy was a means of escape from the unjust hierarchical society of the European nations. The period time after Queen Annes War (1702 - 1713) left thousands of men unemployed due to the abolishment of privateering, leaving thousands of sailors with adequate military proficiency unemployed. Legal employment was in the form of serving as a naval soldier or serving on a merchant ship, which was a brutal life since all power rested in the hands of the captain. The majority of pirates came from a poverty-stricken background, whose only possible job was to work on a merchant or naval ship. When they compared this to the attractive aspects of pirate life, they found piracy a much better option, due to the egalitarian society. In past writings, such as Charles Johnson (possibly Daniel Defoe)s A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious pyrates to contemporary authors, like Marcus Rediker, they all agree on the egalitarian structure of pirate society. Before Queen Annes War, in Britain, there existed legal piracy, called privateering, where the pirates could attack Spanish vessels. Privateering was arguably the best way of life for men from poor backgrounds, since the discipline and wages were more generous than merchant or naval life, and the simple fact that it was legal. The legality of privateering prevented them from being hunted, like many later pirates, such as Blackbeard or Bart Roberts. Then, after Queen Annes War, because of the treaties with Spain and other nations, Britain had to prohibit privateering otherwise it would harm the treaty. As a result, thousands of jobs were lost, After gambling, drinking, an womanizing all their money away, most sailors were forced to find other jobs, which were scarce, leaving thousands of idle and trained sailors. The employments suitable for many sailors, especially those who were already trained, were generally merchant service or naval fighting. However, the conditions on these ships were harsh, due to the absolute power of the captain. The merchant or naval hierarchy empowered captains with autocratic authority. They could do anything they pleased; they could assign labour, discipline crews harshly (by flogging) and dock their wages by extraordinary amounts. Thus, sailors found that working on marine ships was a brutal and unfair life, and avoided it whenever possible. Comparatively, pirate life was much more equal and fair. Every historian describes pirate society as egalitarian. Society was deliberately organized so total power would never be achieved. The power was in the hands of the crew, as captains could be deposed. Wage differences were at most 2:1, and punishment was decided by the crew. The capture of merchant ships and the allowance of these merchants to join marked the start of the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean, being the centre of national trade. Their egalitarian society was completely different to the hierarchical monarchy of nations like Britain, and was indeed an escape from the unjust society of European nations. The majority of pirates turned to piracy, but not all did. Many joined due to the attractions of pirate life, such as Stede Bonnet, who was a moderately wealthy landowner and was faring well among the many Europeans. Piracy had many

adventurous aspects with it, such as treasure and the unknown. Thus, not all pirates turned to piracy for escape from an unfair society. Most men became pirates to escape from poverty and a hierarchical and unfair society. The end of Queen Annes War symbolized the end of privateering, creating a massive wave of unemployment during that time for sailors. Other forms of employment were brutal and despised, because of the absolute power of captains on merchant or naval ships. The general poor nature of most people compelled men to turn to piracy, due to the egalitarian values piracy contains. However, not all men became pirates due to desperation, but also for the rumoured adventure it would give, such as Stede Bonnet. Thus, the majority of men turned to piracy out of desperation during the 18th century, but many did it for the thrill.