Privateer or Pirate? Here's something to think about - even though American privateers had permission from the U.S. government to capture enemy ships, the British still considered these American privateers to be pirates. Why do you suppose this was so? Many pirates would stage mock trials for entertainment. They knew that if they were ever captured and tried in a court of law, they would be executed. During these mock trials, the pirates would dress up and pretend to be judge, jury, and the captured pirate. Do you think they would find the pirate character in a mock trial guilty? Your teacher has a script for the mock trial of Chesapeake Charlie. Perhaps your class can act out this trial!

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