impressments
Compulsory military seizure
Impressment is the practice of forcing people into military or naval service, historically carried out by governments seizing men from civilian life or foreign ships.
The British Royal Navy's impressment of American sailors was a major grievance leading to the War of 1812.
The plural impressments refers to multiple instances of this forced conscription.
The impressments of colonial sailors sparked widespread outrage.
Compel military service
- Royal NavyUK naval military branch
- HMS VictoryPreserved first-rate ship-of-the-line
- man-of-warArmed sailing vessel
- frigateMedium-sized naval warship
ship-of-the-line · seaman · mariner · sailor · midshipman · Admiralty · Nelson · Trafalgar
Preliminary version of text
- levyCompulsory government charge
- enlistmentVoluntary entry into service
- recruitmentSeeking new personnel
- inductionFormal admission process
call-up · summons · requisition · manpower · quota · obligation · servitude · labor
Irresistible urge to act
- duressCoercion through threats
- forceStrength or compulsion
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
seizure · abduction · kidnapping · gang · roundup · crimp · resistance · desertion
press-gang
Compel military service
- Royal NavyUK naval military branch
- HMS VictoryPreserved first-rate ship-of-the-line
- man-of-warArmed sailing vessel
frigate · ship-of-the-line · seaman · mariner · sailor · midshipman · Admiralty · Nelson · Trafalgar · fleet
draft
Preliminary version of text
- levyCompulsory government charge
- enlistmentVoluntary entry into service
- recruitmentSeeking new personnel
induction · call-up · summons · requisition · manpower · quota · obligation · servitude · labor · national service
compulsion
Irresistible urge to act
- duressCoercion through threats
- forceStrength or compulsion
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
constraint · seizure · abduction · kidnapping · gang · roundup · crimp · resistance · desertion · escape
impressmentsvoluntary enlistment
Unpressured military signup
enlistment · volunteering · voluntary service · signing up · joining up
impressmentsliberation
Release from constraint
emancipation · release · freedom · manumission · discharge