Embargo Act Research Paper

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The predominant conflict between the United States and Great Britain prior to the war of 1812 was the British impressment of American sailors and merchants. At the time, Britain was at war with the First French Empire led by Napoleon Bonaparte. It was anticipated that many soldiers and sailors would desert the British Navy because of its substandard conditions. The majority of the deserting sailors joined the United States Merchant Marine; it not only had safer working conditions, but had payment of approximately four times the amount received in the British Navy. As substantial amounts of sailors abandoned the British Navy, U.S. ships were frequently stopped and searched for deserters. In this process, anyone allegedly deserting was impressed, …show more content…

The main function of the Embargo act was to terminate all exports to Europe in order to stop impressment of U.S. sailors. While it did operate to end American impressment, the effect of the Embargo Act on the American economy was brutal. American trade plummeted, with exports falling 80% and imports falling 50%. Jefferson knew that ending the Embargo Act would reinstate conflict with Britain; but without doing so, the United States would have been pushed into further financial disarray. In March of 1809, Jefferson replaced the Embargo Act with the second economic sanction, the Non-Intercourse Act, in hopes of reviving the American economy. The Non-Intercourse Act still excluded both Great Britain and France from American trade, but reopened trade with the rest Europe. The Non-Intercourse Act did have an exception to the ban on trade; if either Britain or France agreed to revoke its edicts against American trade, commerce would recommence with that country. However this act did not solve the problem either, as Britain continued impressment upon American sailors. By 1810, Madison enacted another measure known as Macon’s Bill No. 2. The bill allowed trade to resume with both countries, on the condition that embargoes would be placed on countries that interfered with American rights. After progressing attacks from Britain, an embargo was reestablished with England in the spring of

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