What was the name given to the british pratice of taking americans sailors from their ships and forcing them to serve in british navy

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Emma Patrick

14 December, 14:33

What was the name given to the british pratice of taking americans sailors from their ships and forcing them to serve in british navy

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Hannah Walters · Answer 1

The name given to the British practice of taking American sailors from their ships and forcing them to serve in the British Navy is called impressment.

Vaughn Sherman · Answer 2

The name given to the British practice of taking American sailors from their ships and forcing them to serve in the British Navy is "impressment". There are also colloquial expressions: "the press" and "the press gang". It was used by the Royal Navy in wartime, beginning in 1664 and during the 18th and early 19th centuries as a means of crewing warships, although legal sanction for the practice goes back to the time of Edward I of England. Impressment was strongly criticized by those who believed it to be contrary to the British constitution.