Why did great Britain impress U.S sailors in the early 1800s?

In the early 1800s, Great Britain impressed U.S. sailors primarily due to its need for manpower in the Napoleonic Wars. The British Royal Navy forcibly recruited American sailors, claiming they were British citizens or deserters, which violated U.S. sovereignty and fueled tensions between the two nations. This practice was one of the contributing factors to the War of 1812, as it angered the American public and government, highlighting issues of national honor and maritime rights.