![]() It devoted little energy to the conflict in North America, although it did send ships to blockade the American coast. From 1812 to 1814, Britain concentrated on its war against France. But the slow mails of the day prevented this news from reaching the United States until weeks after June 18th, when Congress approved Madison’s request for a declaration of war. ![]() To try to avoid war, the British announced that they would no longer interfere with American shipping. In fact, the British seized not only their own deserters, but also frightened a significant number of United States citizens-estimates suggest 6000 or more.īritain did not really want a war with the United States because it was already involved in another war with France. The British government claimed that it only detained subjects of the Crown who sailed under the American flag to escape wartime service in their own navy. American presidents from Washington to Madison tried to keep the United States neutral during these conflicts, but both France and Britain deliberately ignored the rights of neutral countries.įor the Americans, the greatest annoyance was Britain's practice of impressments, or the capture of American sailors for service in the British navy. France and Britain, Europe's two most powerful nations, had battles almost constantly since 1793, and their warfare directly affected American trade.
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