A great deal of pressing, or impressment, went on between the British and American Navy throughout the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). Britain endured constant shortages of seamen due to a lack of qualification and low pay; when it actually came, and being at war with Napoleonic France required twelve thousand new sailors each year to man warships. American ships became a new source to obtain new recruits, Britain would seize British subjects and deserters justifiably on the principle that “Once an Englishman, always an Englishman.” However since there was no distinguishable differences between American and British sailors many Americans were wrongfully impressed under the pretext they wMany historians have argued whether who the victor was…show more content… A great deal of pressing, or impressment, went on between the British and American Navy throughout the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). Britain endured constant shortages of seamen due to a lack of qualification and low pay; when it actually came, and being at war with Napoleonic France required twelve thousand new sailors each year to man warships. American ships became a new source to obtain new recruits, Britain would seize British subjects and deserters justified on the principle that “Once an Englishman, always an Englishman.” However, since there was no distinguishable differences between American and British sailors, many Americans were wrongfully impressed under the pretext they were British. To Americans, impressment directly insulted the honor and dignity of their nation and to their national sovereignty. It was clear Britain had low respects for America and had no intentions on treating America as an independent nation. British arrogance went so far as to open fire upon the USS Chesapeake on June 22 1807 for refusing to comply with a search for deserters. The Chesapeake, unready for battle, encountered heavy damage from the British warship HMS Leopard’s broadside cannons, wounding the commander of the Chesapeake, 18 sailors and killing three. The commander of the Chesapeake, James Barron, he had