Embargo Act of 1807

E65634

The Embargo Act of 1807 was a U.S. law signed by President Thomas Jefferson that halted American exports in an attempt to pressure Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars, but instead severely damaged the U.S. economy and provoked widespread opposition.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal law
trade embargo
aimedAt French Empire
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
allowed coastal trade within the United States
appliesToJurisdiction United States
assessment widely regarded as a failure of Jeffersonian economic coercion policy
causeOf economic depression in U.S. port cities
increased domestic manufacturing in the United States
political opposition to Thomas Jefferson
severe decline in American exports
strengthening of the Federalist Party in New England
widespread smuggling along U.S. borders
country United States of America
dateSigned 1807-12-22
endTime 1809-03-01
followedBy Non-Intercourse Act
historicalContext Anglo-French war during the Napoleonic era
historicalPeriod Napoleonic Wars
legalBasis Congressional power to regulate foreign commerce
legislativeBody United States Congress
locationOfEffect Middle Atlantic states
New England
Southern United States
Western frontier of the United States
mainSubject foreign trade restrictions
neutral rights
officeHeldBySigner President of the United States
opposedBy Federalist Party
New England merchants
shipowners in the United States
prohibited all American exports to foreign ports
reasonForEmbargo British Orders in Council
British impressment of American sailors
French Continental System
violations of U.S. neutral trading rights
relatedTo Macon's Bill Number 2
Non-Importation Act of 1806
Non-Intercourse Act
War of 1812
repealDate 1809-03-01
repealedBy Non-Intercourse Act
restricted American ships from sailing to foreign ports
shortDescription U.S. law halting American exports to pressure Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars
signedBy Thomas Jefferson
startTime 1807-12-22
statedGoal to avoid war through economic coercion
to pressure Britain and France to respect American neutral rights
supportedBy Democratic-Republican Party leadership


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