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Of all the causes for the War of 1812, the impressment of American sailors into the Royal Navy was the most important for many Americans. The British practice of manning naval ships with "pressed" men, who were forcibly placed into service, was a common one in English history, dating back to medieval times. Sailors being pressed. From the collections of The Mariners' Museum. Under British law, the navy had the right, during time of war, to sweep through the streets of Great Britain, essentially arresting men and placing them in the Royal Navy.

Naval press gangs operated throughout England in organized districts overseen by naval captains. When there was a need for new recruits the gangs would move through the waterfront districts searching for "Roderick Random," as they called the men they pressed. Under law, the press gangs could take almost anyone they happened to find. However, some individuals were protected from the press: apprentices already indentured to a master, seamen with less than two years' experience at sea, fishermen, and others associated with maritime trade and industry such as riggers, shipwrights, and sailmakers. These men were essential to the economic well-being of the empire and were not to be conscripted by press gangs. However, simply identifying oneself as a member of a protected segment of British society was not enough to guarantee one's freedom. Each "protected man" was required to carry with him a document called a protection that identified him and his trade. If he could not produce his protection on demand by the press gang, he could be pressed without further question.

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8y ago
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12y ago

The British said they were just british sailors that deserted their ships but most were american

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14y ago

Yes and it was called "impressment".

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Q: How did the british seize American sailors?
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Why did the british seize American sailors?

In the relatively brief interval between the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, Britain had not fully accepted that America had become an independent nation rather than a British colony, and it seized American sailors in order to impress them (or draft them, as we would say in more modern language) into the British navy, which was always in need of more sailors.


Why did the British ships seize American sailors?

In the relatively brief interval between the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, Britain had not fully accepted that America had become an independent nation rather than a British colony, and it seized American sailors in order to impress them (or draft them, as we would say in more modern language) into the British navy, which was always in need of more sailors.


Why did British ships seize American ships?

In the relatively brief interval between the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, Britain had not fully accepted that America had become an independent nation rather than a British colony, and it seized American sailors in order to impress them (or draft them, as we would say in more modern language) into the British navy, which was always in need of more sailors.


Why were sailors deserting the British Navy. To join the American navy?

Conditions in the Royal Navy were awful, which lead some sailors to desert the British navy and join the American navy. Many American sailors were taken hostage by the British.


Why were sailors deserting the british navy to join the american navy-?

Conditions on American ships were far superior to that of British ships.


British attack on American sailors?

Chesapeake Affair


When England was forcing US sailors to work in the british navy this was called?

Americans were angered by the British practice of impressment which American sailors were forced into the British navy.


What word refers to the British practice of forcing American sailors into service of the British navy?

Impressment is forcing American sailors into joining the British Navy.


British practice of boarding American ships and seizing sailors for service in the British navy?

impressment


What word refers to the British practice of forcing American sailor into the service of the British navy?

Impressment is forcing American sailors into joining the British Navy.


British seized sailors from American ships?

Yes and it was called "impressment".


What was one of the causes of the War of 1812?

The British were seizing American sailors and making them serve in the British Navy.