As Great Britain ruled the sea, and Napoleon most of western Europe, these decrees and orders meant the ruin of our commerce. Against such rules of war our government protested, claiming the right of "free trade," or the "freedom of the seas,"--the right of a neutral to trade with either belligerent, provided the goods were not for use in actual war (as guns, powder, and shot). OUR SAILORS IMPRESSED.--But we had yet another cause of quarrel with Great Britain. She claimed that in time of war she had a right to the services of her sailors; that if they were on foreign ships, they must come home and serve on her war vessels. She denied that a British subject could become a naturalized American; once a British subject, always a British subject, was her doctrine. She stopped our vessels at sea, examined the crews, and seized or "impressed" any British subjects found among them-- and many American sailors as well. Against such "impressment" our government set up the claim of "sailors' rights"--denying the right of Great Britain to search our ships at sea or to seize sailors of any nationality while on board an American vessel. THE ATTACK ON THE CHESAPEAKE.--Before 1805 Great Britain confined impressment to the high seas and to her own ports. After 1805 she carried it on also off our coasts and in our ports. Finally, in 1807, a British officer, hearing that some British sailors were among the crew of our frigate _Chesapeake_ which was about to sail, only partly equipped, from the Washington navy yard, ordered the _Leopard_ to follow the _Chesapeake_ to sea and search her. This was done, and when Commodore Barron refused to have his vessel searched, she was fired on by the _Leopard_, boarded, searched, and one British and three American sailors were taken from her deck. [3] [Illustration: THE CHESAPEAKE SURRENDERS TO THE LEOPARD.] CONGRESS RETALIATES.--It was now high time for us to strike back at France and Great Britain. We had either to fight for "free trade and sailors' rights," or to abandon the sea and stop all attempts to trade with Europe and Great Britain. Jefferson chose the latter course. Our retaliation therefore consisted of 1. The Long Embargo (1807-9). 2. The Non-intercourse Act (1809). 3. Macon's Bill No. 2 (1810). 4. The Declaration of War (1812).