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Major Causes: The War Of 1812

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Impressment of American sailors was the practice of Britain’s Royal Navy of sending officers to board American ships, inspect the crew, and seize sailors accused of being deserters of from British ships. It also forced American sailors into the British navy which infuriated Jefferson and American merchants. Impressment of American sailors was a major factor and one of the reasons for the War of 1812. On June 22, 1807, a British lieutenant boarded the Chesapeake (American ship), and demanded that the American commander, Captain James Barron assemble his crew so the British could look for deserters. He refused to have his crew inspected, and as a result, the British returned to their ships and fired at the Chesapeake. Three American sailors were killed and 18 were wounded. …show more content…

American exports declined by 75% and imports declined by 50%. Cotton growers in the South lost their British market and merchants in New England suffered. In 1809, the Embargo Act was repealed and in replacement, the Non-Intercourse Act was passed. It prohibited trade with Britain and France. The act failed to make Britain and France respect America and had a still had a negative effect on American trade as well. In 1810, it was replaced by Macon’s Bill No. 2 which stated that America would trade with whoever dropped the non-trade act first and would not trade with the other country. Although Napoleon proclaimed that he would cease interference with American trade, the French were still attacking the American ships. Even though the French were not sticking to their word, America’s biggest threat and concern was Britain. In the fall of 1811, the War Hawks in congress demanded war against Britain. They claimed that Britain was providing aid to the Native Americans to attack the Americans on the western frontier. On June 18, 1812, Madison signed a declaration of war against

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