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of free trade and navigation on the high seas. The United States in the 1800’s was at
best a minor power. Europe was engulfed in one of its’ many global conflicts. In this
case the antagonists were England and Napoleon's France. The out come of this conflict in
1812 was still very much in doubt. Britain was actively fighting or financing other
nations to fight against Napoleon in Spain, Russia, Austria, the Caribbean, and India. The
one place were the British held unchallenged dominance was on the water. The Royal Navy
has been called England’s wall of wood. In no small part the size and caliber of her
fleet kept Napoleon out of the British Isles. The logistical demands that faced the
Royal Navy were incredible. The shortage of seamen was an especially difficult problem.
The British, very much aware that if the navy suffered so to did England's defense,
resorted to the tactic of impressment to keep the fleet properly manned. The technique
involved the stopping of neutral shipping and removing those men deemed to be British Citizens, (past or present)
reguardless of their true nationality. |
