Final answer:
American merchant ships faced problems such as foreign aggression, primarily from Britain and France, who seized ships and impressed sailors during the Napoleonic Wars, and internal economic difficulties like inadequate regulatory powers that affected U.S. industries.
Step-by-step explanation:
American merchant ships faced a myriad of problems around the world during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Naval power became increasingly important as nations engaged in empire building and international trade. The United States, striving to maintain its neutrality and economic interests, was caught in the crossfires of the Napoleonic Wars. Both Britain and France seized American ships, with Britain's policy of Impressment causing significant tensions. American sailors were forced into the Royal Navy, exacerbating the situation and leading to the Embargo Act of 1807 which halted American commerce. Additionally, the U.S. struggled with internal economic issues such as the inability to regulate interstate commerce or impose tariffs on foreign goods, allowing British goods to undermine American products.
The strategic significance of having robust navies to safeguard commercial ventures was recognized with the development of colonies that served as supply and fueling stations. Yet, this ambition for increased naval capability and territorial expansion invited foreign threats and competition. Ultimately, these global pressures, including unchecked British navy dominance and internal economic difficulties, led to the War of 1812, characterized by both maritime and territorial conflicts.