An "Aye" for an "Aye": The Pirates of Nassau, 1718

APPROXIMATE COMMITTEE SIZE: 25 delegates

As long as there has been sea travel, there have been pirates. Piracy has captivated the public imagination; however, no cohort of pirates has captured the public imagination quite like that which sailed the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy from 1714-1720. After the War of Spanish Succession, Nassau was a haven for these swashbuckling seafarers, led by the notorious "Flying Gang,” until King George I offered pirates who surrendered themselves to the British government a pardon in what became known as the Acts of Grace. This committee simulates the chaos that mired the Caribbean as anti-piracy attitudes rapidly took hold of the region: Pirates of varying power split into two factions, one led by pro-pardon Benjamin Hornigold and one led by anti-pardon Charles Vane, and face off against the British Empire in a Battleship-style power struggle. Pirate actions directly impact the board, with potential gains or defections based on ship loss. The pirates with the most ships may gain unique strengths, while losing ships may result in pirates defecting to England. This unique committee promotes engagement and could either lead to the pirates' victory or their gradual integration into the British Empire.

CHAIR: Victoria Schmidt

ISSUES TO CONSIDER

Resistance or Reintegration with British Society

Keeping the Republic of Pirates Afloat

Resolving Conflicts between Pirate Factions

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Develop essential diplomatic skills like communication, cooperation, and compromise through debate and crisis resolutions. 

• Gain a nuanced understanding of international affairs as it pertains to sovereignty and resource management among small island nations.

• Deepen historical knowledge and appreciation for the diverse experiences of pirates, fostering a more informed and empathetic perspective on the topics at hand.

About the Chair

Victoria Schmidt (she/her) is a member of the Walsh School of Foreign Service’s class of 2027, intending to major in International Economics and minor in Math. She grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where she got involved in Model UN in middle school. She loved discussing international issues, and later became involved in running a local high school conference aimed at training younger delegates. At Georgetown, Victoria competes on team GUMUN and is involved with the DC Schools Project and the fencing club. In her free time, she loves trying new coffee and boba shops, exploring thrift stores and vintage shops, and going to art museums. She cannot wait to meet everyone involved in NAIMUN as Chair for An “Aye” for an “Aye!”

About the Crisis manager

Valli Pendyala (they/them) is a member of the Class of 2027 in the Walsh School of Foreign Service, planning to major in Regional Studies: SWANA & South Asia and minoring in Arabic. They are originally from Connecticut and competed in Model UN conferences in the New England area, which led to them coming to Georgetown in the first place. At Georgetown, Valli is the Advocacy Director for GUPride, writes for The Caravel's Middle East and Central Asia section, and is generally over-committed to everything. Aside from staffing both NCSC and NAIMUN in the past, they have also been the Director of Operations for DistrictMUN, Georgetown’s middle school conference and are currently the Director of Operations for NCSC LII (are you sensing a theme…). In their free time, they enjoy collecting recipes, diving deep into their obsession with pirates (fun fact, this committee began as a rant they made to the Chair), and eating at new restaurants. They cannot wait to welcome you to Washington, DC and look forward to being your Crisis Manager!