Question

What was the British policy of impressment during the Napoleonic Wars?

Answer 1

Impressment, or “press gang” as it was more commonly known, was recruitment by force. It was a practice that directly affected the U.S. and was even one of the causes of the War of 1812.

Answer 2

Impressment was the recruitment by force, it was very used by the British to avoid manpower shortage during the war. Since Britain consistently suffered manpower shortages because of low pay and lack of qualification, it was needed to force people into service. The Impressment of foreigners was very common, many times Americans would suffer from it, between 1793 and 1812 more than 15 thousand Americans were impressed by the British.