League of Armed Neutrality
League of Armed Neutrality. The league was founded in 1780 during the American War of Independence to resist Britain's blockade of the rebels. The founding members, Sweden, Denmark, and Russia, were joined by the Dutch, the Holy Roman empire, Prussia, and Portugal. At issue was the right to search neutral vessels and the league retorted by arming convoys. One consequence was war between Holland and the British. A second league was formed in 1800 during the Napoleonic War and included Denmark, Sweden, Russia, and Prussia. The British response was the attack upon the Danish fleet at Copenhagen by Lord Nelson, and the Russians withdrew after the assassination of Paul I. In January 1801 a maritime convention in St Petersburg attempted to resolve the problems but the right of search continued to cause difficulties for many years.
J. A. Cannon
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League of Armed Neutrality
