PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE Table of Contents Letter from the Crisis Director Page 2 Letter from the Chair Page 3 Committee Structure Page 4 Basic Background Page 4 Timeline Page 4 Positions Page 5 References Page 7 1 PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE Letter from Crisis Director Hello delegates, A warm welcome to this Caribbean Conclave! My name is Rose Miller and I will be your Head of Committee (along with our very own CoS, Marta Millar) and your Crisis Director. This committee has been in the works for a long time and has been loving crafted almost exclusively through Pirates of the Caribbean gifs. Personally, I have always desperately wanted to be an 18th century pirate. For many years of my life I wanted to work on a tall ship post-grad but my horrific fear of heights has slightly put a damper on that. So this committee might be the closest I ever get. The committee is designed to be historically accurate and as this is a college level conference, the material offered will be allowed to be of a more mature nature, concentrating on what is historically prevalent. We hope that you have as much fun with the committee as we have had making it! Obviously, if you have any questions please contact me at [email protected]. Have fun! Rose 2 PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE Letter from Chair Dear Delegates, My name is Erfan Shakibaei and I am honored to welcome you to the Caribbean Conclave for PUNC X! I will be the chair of the committee. I am a sophomore at The Pennsylvania State University majoring in Finance and I have been involved in Model UN since my sophomore year of high school. I had the privilege of being a delegate in many committees and I've staffed quite a few. Outside of Model UN, I'm involved with the Penn State Undergraduate Mock Trial team, Smeal Student Council, and the Penn State Investment Association. Outside of extracurricular activities, I enjoy being active and reading. I am very excited for this committee and extremely eager for this weekend. If you have any questions about the committee or want to talk about all things relating finance, please don't hesitate to ask at [email protected] Sincerely, Erfan 3 PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE Committee Structure Basic Idea The committee surrounds the Flying Gang and the Republic of Pirates in the early 1700s. For the purpose of this committee, we believe to have provided enough information in this pamphlet that extra research, while obviously encouraged, will not hinder a delegate’s participation. The purpose of the committee is twofold. The first is to act as normal pirates, accruing wealth and ships. The second, and more important purpose, is to develop their own state with international recognition and to beat back the British, Spanish, and French. Therefore, the second purpose of this committee cannot be ignored. Crisis Boones Each pirate will have a power given to the delegate upon entering the committee room on the first day as well as given information on initial ship positions, wealth, and food as well as other important information. The bartering of goods will also have their own rates placed on the board at all times. However, you are pirates and we are expecting you to act like it, within reason. Basic Background The Caribbean was part of the European colonial playground. It saw action in many wars, as the world powers played each other for trading and territory rights. After the War of Spanish Succession, the Caribbean also becomes home to the third pinnacle of pirates’ heights of power, during the height of the Pirates’ Golden Age. For the purpose of this committee, the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, does two main important things. The first-- giving Britain the Asentio to trade in Spanish ports to increase their slave economy and the second stopped privateering. The end of privateering meant that there were suddenly many highly skilled sailors who once stole for governments, now with no orders in the rich Caribbean. For most, the switch was obvious and they became pirates. During this period of piracy, the Flying Gang became the most powerful of all, setting up the Republic of Pirates at Nassau. During this period, in 1715, the first real act of the Flying Gang period piracy occurred with the Treasure Fleet. A sunken Spanish treasure galleon was being salvaged off the coast of Florida. The pirates spent the next 3 years pillaging all through the Caribbean and the Eastern Coast of America. Timeline 1692, June 7 – Destruction of Port Royal in an earthquake, destroying the pirate haven 1694 – Establishment of Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, 1703 – Nassau is abandoned by the British to a joint occupation of the Spanish and French 1704 – Nassau, by this point, is depopulated as the native Lucayans were wiped out from disease and slavery. The Bahamas would be attempted to be settled by the British but due to warfare from the French and the Spanish, they would fail. 1706 – Establishment of the Republic of Pirates at Nassau. 4 PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE 1713-1714 – War of the Spanish Succession which ended in the Treaty of Utrecht. 1715 – Spanish Treasure Fleet, off the coast of Florida. Positions Please note: everyone will be getting more information about their assigned character on day 1, these bios are limited due to the limited information about each pirate before they turned to piracy and well, we didn’t want to give up the story so quickly. Henry Jennings- served as a privateer during the war of Spanish Succession. His career as a privateer was served in Jamaica where he became very wealthy and lived as part of the landowning elite. Unlike others, his draw to piracy is therefore more unclear than others. Like many, however, the switch from privateering to piracy was an easy one; he followed his want for adventure. Samuel Bellamy- also known as Black Sam due to never wearing a powdered wig and wearing his black hair tie in a satin bow. He was, probably, press ganged into the British Navy and served as a ship’s boy during the War of Spanish Succession. After the war, he sailed for the new world. Unlike other pirates, he was drawn to piracy due to anger at the British Navy and is famous for never killing a captive. Benjamin Hornigold- His career as a pirate started in 1713 when he began to loot merchant vessels. His first mate was Edward Teach who eventually became more powerful than Hornigold. Hornigold is also known as being one of the leaders who helped to build and establish the Republic of Pirates. While he might not have had the most plunder but he was one of the most influential pirates and made the community far more diplomatic and democratic than it had been before him. Charles Vane- He started as a privateer in Jamaica. During his time in the privateering army in Jamaica, he probably took part in the Jacobite Rebellion. Like Black Sam, he developed an intense hatred of the British and turned to piracy in order to hurt the navy. He started his piracy career under Henry Jennings and eventually became one of the founding member of the Flying Gang. Jack Rackham- also known as Calico Jack. He started his pirate career as the quartermaster on Vane’s ship. He then took control of Vane’s fleet, allowing Vane to keep a ship and those loyal to him. This occurred due to a difference of opinion between the two men but was one of the more diplomatic mutinies. He is also known for having an affair with Anne Bonny while she served on his ship. Edward Teach- Also known as Blackbeard. Like most pirates during this time, he started as a privateer for England and became a pirate post the war. He joined the Flying Gang through becoming a crew member under Hornigold. Black Caesar- He was originally a war tribal chieftain who was tricked into slavery. During a hurricane aboard a slave ship, he was freed by a friendly sailor and stole one of the 5 PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ship’s longboats. The crew of the longboat took to piracy, luring people as acting-shipwrecked- sailors. This worked for many years as he developed a stockpile of treasure. Anne Bonny- She sailed to the New World with her family when she was young, eventually becoming disowned when she married a small-time pirate. She and her husband moved to Nassau where she would start an affair with Calico Jack, becoming a fearsome pirate in her own right. She was well known for her hair and vigor in fights. Mary Read- She grew up on ships, dressing as a boy. She joined the British Navy and learned how to fight. Eventually, Mary fell in love and own an inn in the Netherlands. Once her husband died, she dressed as a boy again and headed to the West Indies. There she joined Calico Jack’s ship and served alongside Anne Bonny. She was also a pirate in her own right, known for being fearsome. Steven Stagnetti- Stagnetti plays the part of the Nassau port master. This is the only position who doesn’t have a historical name or relevance. While there would have been some kind of port master, this character, for the purposes of the committee, is completely fictitious historically. However, for this committee the port master, not only having control over who comes in goes out of the main harbor but controls a vast network of prostitutes, food, ale, and spies.