Europe. This struggle had been raging since the turn of the century. The British as in any bi-polar system were dead set on preventing this from happening. With the United States only a minor player in the international system at the time there was nothing the United States could do in this affair except continue its policy of neutrality, and isolationism.
             With a bi-polar international system, you are always in a position of war breaking out at anytime, especially in the days before nuclear warheads. With each pole trying to expand its power and sphere of influence, they were constantly at each other's throat. With Britain still establishing colonies in the west and gaining dominance over the seas with their naval abilities, France was looking for ways to stop Britain.
             France began forming alliances with the third player in the game, Russia. With the addition of the Russians France had Britain reeling and worried about a possible invasion and defeat. France, by adding Russia had tipped the scales in its favor, and forced Britain to use its navy that it had begun to build up. Britain began to employ a naval blockade of the European mainland, to stop all incoming and outgoing trade. With this tactic employed France employed the same tactic and this is where the American claim of neutrality was violated. With both Britain and France mandating that any trade ship must first pass through their ports or be subject acts of hostility, America was forced into a no win situation.
             The United States who continued to try to remain neutral and continue trade with both countries, found itself thrown right in the middle of this age long battle. The United States and the British Royal Navy had several encounters, and after several ships being stopped for search and some even eventually seized, America began to develop an even stronger feeling of distrust and hatred for the British government. These actions lead eventually to the Uni...