Show simple item record

"The Misfortune to Get Pressed:" The Impressment of American Seamen and the Ramifications on the United States, 1793-1812

dc.contributor.advisorUrwin, Gregory J. W., 1955-
dc.contributor.advisorWaldstreicher, David
dc.creatorWolf, Joshua J.
dc.date.accessioned2020-11-05T19:50:40Z
dc.date.available2020-11-05T19:50:40Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.identifier.other958157574
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12613/4048
dc.description.abstractThe impressment of American seamen by the Royal Navy was one of the most serious dilemmas faced by the United States during the early republic. Thousands of American citizens were forced into British naval service between 1793 and 1812. This dissertation uses a wide-variety of sources including seamen’s letters, newspapers, almshouse records, US Navy officer’s correspondence, and diplomatic communiqués, to demonstrate the widespread impact impressment had on American society. A sizable database on impressed Americans was created for this dissertation. The database was instrumental in some of this work’s most important theses. Drawing on an array of sources, such as newspaper reports, seamen appeals, and State Department reports, the database contains detailed information on thousands of men. Far more Americans were pressed in the Royal Navy than previously believed. While historians have long accepted that New England suffered most from impressment, in fact it was the mid-Atlantic states that lost the most mariners to the Royal Navy. Southern states were also impacted by impressment far more than anybody has realized. Seaman abductions profoundly affected American domestic, foreign, and naval affairs. Impressment influenced American culture and played a role in the African slavery debate of the early republic. Impressment also exacted a heavy toll on waterfront communities as wives and children struggled to adjust to life during the prolonged absence of the primary wage earner. Although the federal government attempted repeatedly to either legislate or negotiate a resolution to the impressment issue, all efforts were in vain. When James Madison prepared to lead the United States to war against Great Britain in 1812, the belligerence of impressment figured largely in his decision, as well as in Congressional support for war. Impressment has often been viewed as an issue of minor importance, confined largely to New England. In actuality, impressment was a national concern that impinged on a myriad of issues during the early American republic.
dc.format.extent359 pages
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherTemple University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartofTheses and Dissertations
dc.rightsIN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
dc.subjectAmerican History
dc.subjectHistory, Military
dc.subjectImpressment
dc.subjectSeamen
dc.subjectWar of 1812
dc.title"The Misfortune to Get Pressed:" The Impressment of American Seamen and the Ramifications on the United States, 1793-1812
dc.typeText
dc.type.genreThesis/Dissertation
dc.contributor.committeememberGlasson, Travis
dc.contributor.committeememberTaylor, Alan, 1955-
dc.description.departmentHistory
dc.relation.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.34944/dspace/4030
dc.ada.noteFor Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation, including help with reading this content, please contact scholarshare@temple.edu
dc.description.degreePh.D.
refterms.dateFOA2020-11-05T19:50:40Z


Files in this item

Thumbnail
Name:
TETDEDXWolf-temple-0225E-12189.pdf
Size:
1.741Mb
Format:
PDF
Download

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record