For many years prior to the time of this document, pirates based in Tunis, Tripoli, Algiers, and Morocco on the northern coast of Africa, known as the Barbary Coast, had preyed on ships in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean. European nations made payments to these countries to ensure the safety of their merchant vessels.

While the American Colonies were under British rule, they were protected by payments of the mother country and the power of the British navy. However, after the American Revolution officially ended in 1783, ships of the newly independent United States had to manage on their own. For years the Presidents and Congress debated the practice of paying tributes for safe passage for vessels, although they continued to make the payments. Twice the United States sent ships to the Mediterranean to fight the pirates, in 1801 and 1815. Following the second "war" the tribute payments ended.

In 1796 a new Federal law required the government to begin issuing Passports to ships owned by United States citizens to verify the nationality of the ship. The document, called a Mediterranean Pass, was based on the British passport. The top of the document was cut in a scalloped design and sent to the United States consuls in the Barbary states as a method of verifying the authenticity of the pass. The top half of the form contained two engravings. Signatures of the President of the United States and the Secretary of State were in the lower right hand portion, and the seal of the United States in the lower left section. The pass was good for multiple voyages, but had to be surrendered if the ship was sold.

As the United States' power grew and shipping became safer, the Mediterranean Pass came to be regarded as less important by shipmasters. The $10.00 fee for obtaining the document was discontinued in 1831. By 1860, the Mediterranean Pass was no longer in use.