War of Trade 1812
Both Britain and France had issued decrees that interfered with the United States right to conducted commerce as a neutral nation. The British “Orders in council” declared all vessels engaged in transporting West India produce from the United States to Europe legal prizes. The American interpretation of this act was that England was attempting to injure France, by depriving her of goods needed to conduct war, and the United States who was becoming to successful a commercial rival. In 1806 Great Britain declared the European coast to be under blockade, thus forbidding neutral vessels to trade in these ports of call on pain of capture and confiscation. This highhanded move was a direct blow to United States commerce.
France countered with the “Berlin Decree” declaring Great Britain under blockade and forbidding the introduction of English goods into France and the admittance of any neutral vessel into French ports that 1st touched at any English port. England countered by forbidding any neutral trade with France. Napoleon then issued his “Milan Decree” confiscating any ship and its cargo that failed to obey the “Berlin Decree” this was extended to include not only ships that touched in English ports but also those that submitted to British search.
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