Why were most american ships kept from getting involved in combat during the war of 1812?

Most American ships were prevented from getting involved in combat during the war of 1812 because the British successfully blockaded most American ports.      

In 911, a group of vikings lead by rollo besieged paris and chartres. after a victory near chartres on 26 august, charles decided to negotiate with rollo. the talks were led by hervé, the archbishop of reims. this resulted in the treaty of saint-clair-sur-epte, which granted rollo and his soldiers all the land between the river epte and the sea. it also granted him brittany, "for his livelihood". at the time, brittany was an independent land which france had not been able to conquer. in exchange, rollo promised the king his loyalty and military assistance when needed. also rollo also agreed to be baptised and to marry gisela, the king's daughter. the territory given rollo is about the same as upper normandy. this would grow to become normandy under rollo's descendants. - wikepedia