American neutral trade and Britain's need for sailors

In Roosevelt's account, British sea power imposed blockade while creating a persistent need for sailors. Attacks on French and British merchant shipping shifted business toward American neutral vessels. American merchants could profit from this trade, and their ships attracted British seamen seeking to escape impressment and severe naval discipline. Both Britain and France resented neutral merchants profiting from their conflict and interfered with American rights. Roosevelt attributes the eventual clash with Britain to its greater capacity to inflict injury, while also criticizing Napoleon's treatment of American shipping.