Mass desertions from British Navy to American ships in this period: no raises for over 150 years US ships pay up to 5X as much salary.

British define citizenship as inalienable (if you are born under the British flag, you are a British citizen until death) American definition is much looser (after 14 years of residence, you can become an American citizen). The majority of these ships and sailors are not insured, so all their value is lost if seized.ġ804 Napoleon proclaims himself emperor of Franceġ805 at Battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Horatio Nelson crushes French/Spanish fleet (they lose 22 of 27 ships, British none), giving Great Britain naval supremacy in the Atlantic and Mediterraneanġ806 England begins to, in effect, blockade US shipping (close European ports to US ships unless they first ship through British ports French seize American ships that obey British rules) and continues impressments. US trades heavily with both nations and their possessions, the value of such trade rising from $32M in 1803 to $108M in 1807.

Settled with peace treaty, 1800.ġ801-04 battles with Barbary pirates in North Africa build on American sense of inferiority/disrespect at seaġ803 France and England go back to war.

War of 1812 increased us navy