Jul 27, 2026 · 9 min · 11 segments
The Royal Navy controls the Atlantic. In November 1793. Whitehall issues orders, any neutral ship trading with France can be seized, cargo confiscated, and the ship taken as a prize. The crews can…
A boarding party climbs aboard, inspects his cargo, checks his paper, then seizes the ship.
Captain Jones and his crew are prisoners.
His cargo is confiscated.
Why? Because Britain is at war with France, and Britain doesn't recognize American neutrality.
American sailors are being press-ganged into the Royal Navy, forced to serve on British warships.
Let me explain what's happening.
In November 1793, Whitehall orders that any neutral ship trading with France can be seized, cargo confiscated, and the ship taken as a prize.
President Washington declares the United States' neutrality in the war in April of 1793.
But Britain doesn't care.
To the Royal Navy, if you're trading with France, you're helping France, and that makes you a target.
Americans are outraged.
Britain's response? You have no navy.
What are you going to do about it? The United States of America has zero warships.
It's too expensive.
A boarding party climbs aboard, inspects his cargo, checks his paper, then seizes the ship.
Captain Jones and his crew are prisoners.
His cargo is confiscated.
Why? Because Britain is at war with France, and Britain doesn't recognize American neutrality.
American sailors are being press-ganged into the Royal Navy, forced to serve on British warships.
Let me explain what's happening.
In November 1793, Whitehall orders that any neutral ship trading with France can be seized, cargo confiscated, and the ship taken as a prize.
President Washington declares the United States' neutrality in the war in April of 1793.
But Britain doesn't care.
To the Royal Navy, if you're trading with France, you're helping France, and that makes you a target.
Americans are outraged.
Britain's response? You have no navy.
What are you going to do about it? The United States of America has zero warships.
It's too expensive.
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