USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Great Britain continued to stop American merchant ships to search for Royal Navy deserters, to impress American seamen on the high seas into the Royal Navy, and to enforce its blockade of neutral commerce.

Detailed explanation-2: -The British used their navy to ship troops to Canada, to keep them supplied, and to blockade and raid the American coast. The blockade had a devastating impact on the U.S. economy and public finance, and also kept most American warships in port.

Detailed explanation-3: -Since 1803 the British navy had forcibly drafted approximately 6, 000 American merchant sailors into its service. This practice of “impressment” violated America’s neutrality and the rights of its citizens.

Detailed explanation-4: -On 18 June, the United States declared war on Great Britain, citing, in part, impressment. After the Napoleonic Wars impressment was ended in practice, though not officially abandoned as a policy. The last law was passed in 1835, in which the power to impress was reaffirmed.