Name
Date
Impressment
Great Britain had been at war with France since 1793. While France, under Napoleon, was nearly invincible on land,
Great Britain dominated the seas and depended on its navy to defend itself against French aggression. The Royal Navy
maintained nearly 1000 ships of all sizes. Some of the ships blockaded French ports to cut trade and supply lines, some
raided French merchant ships at sea and French colonies around the world, some protected England against an invasion
across the English Channel. It took tens of thousands of men to work those ships and as the war dragged on, it was
harder and harder to find the men they needed.
Impressment was the way the Royal Navy got the men they needed. Impressment was basically kidnapping men and
forcing them to serve as sailors. Any subject of the King could be called into service in the army or navy. A ship that was
short of crew members could legally send a “press gang” into a town and capture men by force. They would be taken
aboard ship and forced to serve until they were released, sometimes not until many years later. A ship at sea might also
stop a merchant ship and take sailors from that crew to serve on the navy ship. Impressment was very unpopular, but
the British government felt it was the only way it could find enough men to man the ships that protected the country.
Impressment became a conflict between Great Britain and the United States because sometimes American citizens were
taken as well as British subjects. The British believed they had the right to force any British subject to serve their country.
If they found British seaman aboard American ships, they would take them off and into the navy. The problem was that
it was difficult for a sailor to prove that he was not a British subject. Many people from England, Scotland, and Ireland
had immigrated to America and had become American citizens. They spoke English and looked just like their relatives in
Britain. In addition, many actual British seamen deserted from the Royal Navy to work on American ships because they
got better pay and better treatment. The result was that when a Royal Navy warship stopped an American merchant
vessel, they often took whatever seaman they needed. Although the American government protested, this practice
continued for many years. It is estimated that between 5000-7000 Americans were forced to serve aboard Royal Navy
warships.
How well did you read? Answer the following questions.
What does it mean to “press” men into service?
Why did the Royal Navy have to “impress” sailors?
Why did the Royal Navy sometimes take sailors who were American citizens?
How would you feel if you were suddenly “impressed” into service aboard a warship? Try to identify at least three
different emotions and why you would feel that way.
What else might Britain have done to get more sailors for their ships?
What do you think the difference is between being a “subject of the king” and a “citizen of a country?”