Student Question
What was "impressment" during the War of 1812?
Quick answer:
Impressment during the War of 1812 referred to the British practice of forcibly recruiting sailors from American ships into the Royal Navy. Despite American independence, the British treated American sailors as British subjects, asserting their right to seize them. This practice was a significant factor in escalating tensions between the United States and Britain, contributing to the outbreak of the War of 1812.
Impressment was something that was done by the British but which had a major impact on American history. Impressment was the British practice of taking private sailors from British ships or sea ports and forcing them to join the Royal Navy.
In the time after the US became independent, the British continued to impress sailors from American ships. This showed that the British continued to think that Americans were subjects of Britain. The British felt that they could treat American ships and sailors as if they were British. This practice helped to lead to the War of 1812 between the US and Britain.
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