Embargo Act 1807
On December 22, 1807, President Thomas Jefferson signed the Embargo Act which prohibited American ships from leaving the United States. The legislation was allegedly placed to apply pressure to France and Britain, however only wounding the United States. It was Jefferson's nonviolent resistance to British and French, halting all harassment dealt on American sailors. At Jefferson's request, the two houses of Congress considered and quickly passed the act. All U.S. ports were closed to export shipping in either U.S. or foreign vessels, and also restricting the imports from Great Britain, therefore attempting to create a self efficient country. Its effects in Europe were not what Jefferson had hoped, realizing French and Britain found another source for cotton. Merchants within the U.S. found it difficult to withstand a living, raising the prices while the stock already on hand lasted. The embargo itself had to endure until inventories were exhausted before realizing the trouble it caused. The regional economy headed into a depression, with a growing unemployment. Jefferson's strategy for neutralization isolated the American economy. "The Enforcement Act," signed on April 24, 1808, was the last of the embargo acts. This allowed ports to seize cargoes without a warrant and bring to trial any shipper or merchant who was thought to have merely violated the embargo. After being confronted by bitter and articulate oppositions, Jefferson signed the "Non-Intercourse Act," on March 1, 1809 which was two days before the end of his second term. This permitted the U.S. to trade with Great Britain and France again, as well as other nations.
Why Did Jefferson EXECUTE the Embargo ACt?
The Embargo Act was a general embargo that made trading between the U.S. and Europe illegal. The goal was to force Britain and France to acknowledge American neutrality during the Napoleonic Wars which was fought between Britain and France, however neither wanted the other to obtain American supplies. The act was used to avoid war, punish Britain, and forced a respect to American rights. After the French navy was demolished at the Battle of Trafalgar (Oct. 1805) by the British, French ruler Napoleon turned to economic warfare. He directed all countries under French control to not trade with Britain. With an economically depended country, Britain struck back by imposing a naval blockade on France, which soon interfered U.S. shipping.
The struggle for the U.S. began as ships tried to import goods, having both French and Britain seizing ships which posed significant problems to U.S. export business. It was a practice to stop American trade ships to ensure that they were not carrying military supplies to the enemy. The British further inconvenienced the Americans by forcing them into British naval service, having many sailors become once British citizens. The continuous harassment caused the embargo act to be signed, therefore preventing it from happening to U.S. vessels again.
The struggle for the U.S. began as ships tried to import goods, having both French and Britain seizing ships which posed significant problems to U.S. export business. It was a practice to stop American trade ships to ensure that they were not carrying military supplies to the enemy. The British further inconvenienced the Americans by forcing them into British naval service, having many sailors become once British citizens. The continuous harassment caused the embargo act to be signed, therefore preventing it from happening to U.S. vessels again.