Trouble On the High Seas-- Part 4: Blockade

THE RIGHTS OF A NEUTRAL NATION

There is a name for this kind of a war plan: blockade.  It was the job of the Royal Navy to blockade the French seaports and keep all ships from passing in or out.

But it was the opinion of the American government that the blockade should stop only French ships.  We said that a neutral country, a country that was not fighting in the war, should be able to trade with anyone.  Our policy was the policy of free trade for neutral nations.Having a policy is easy, but making it work is sometimes hard.

The British had plenty of sea power to stop American ships, and they did.

--Brock-Perry