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The Embargo Act

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Warfare is a very controversial topic and when speaking on any war, one cannot possibly state that one isolated event solely attributed to its start. From the time students are introduced to the War of 1812 in high school, it has mainly been taught that the War of 1812 was caused by the taking hostage of American sailors by the British Navy. While American sailors being taken hostage may have been a major breaking point that ultimately set the tone for the declaration of the War of 1812, there were many other incidents that added fuel to an already burning fire. In this paper the writer will set out to discuss the events that seemingly had a part in the start of the War of 1812 and how the United States was affected after the war ended. …show more content…

The Embargo Act forbade exports and imports from all countries and it was passed in hopes of hurting both France and Britain but instead the United States suffered the most from it (Conlin, 216). The Embargo Act reduced exports from $108 million to $22 million (Conlin, 216). The Embargo Act not only made the United States suffer financially but in other aspects as well. Since there was no imports or exports allowed, hundreds of idle ships sat and rotted, tens of thousands seamen and dockworkers were left unemployed and many small businesses who were dependent on seamen’s and stevedores’ wages were forced out of business. After a failed Embargo Act, Congress replaced it with the Non-Intercourse Act in 1809 and under this act, trade was opened with all nations except Britain and France. The Non-Intercourse act did leave the option for the president to reopen trade with France and/or Britain if they agreed to respect American shipping. It was in May 1810, Congress modified the Non-Intercourse Act with Macon’s Bill No. 2, in which it opened trade with both Britain and France. Macon’s Bill No. 2 specifically stated that if either of the two went against their word the United States would then cut off trade with the other and then become economically supportive of whichever country kept their word (Conlin, …show more content…

Our nation is what it is today because of many wars and battles before us. We may not be the best nation in all aspects but we are one of the best and I think the War of 1812 set all of that in motion to happen. After the War of 1812 we seemingly came together for the most part as we continued to expand over this great land. The United States still had many issues that needed to be worked out and many obstacles to overcome but without the War of 1812 there is literally no telling what our nation would be today. Some wars have to happen while others could be avoided, this is one that I whole heartedly feel had to happen in order for the United States to prosper as the nation that it is today because without this war we may have still been very dependent on other countries for many years to come. While many other countries and nations are struggling to survive,

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The embargo Act took place during 1807. This act made any and every export illegal in the United States. This act was introduced by the third President of the United States, President Thomas Jefferson. The act was enacted by Congress of the United States. The main goal of the Embargo Act was to get Britian and France to respect all rights of Americans.

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A few years ago in 1807, congress had passed the Embargo Act, an act that forbids foreign trade. Today, a few years from that day in 1807 we look back on the preoccupations that have occurred because of the act. In just one year we saw our U.S exports decline by $84,000,000. We started with $109,000,000 and ended with $25,000,000.Thousands of Americans have turned to smuggling. The Embargo has trigger a serious Economic Depression and not much can save us right now.

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(gilder lehrman institute of american history) The embargo act of 1807 was an unpopular and costly failure. It hurt the American economy so much more than the British or French, and ended with a lot of smuggling. transports went from $108 million in 1807 to only $22 million in 1808. Farm prices fell fast, too.

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In “The War of 1812 as a Borderland War,” by Alan Taylor, the author discusses the civil war within the War of 1812. Many believe that after the Revolutionary war was over, the United States was set on a path to become what it is today. However, the author discusses just how unstable the country truly was. The people were divided, and many loyalists fled to Canada after the revolutions.

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F). Establishment of the Embargo act denied France and GBR any access to American ports to make the powerful nations realize lost opportunities and the power of US neutrality. Unless the US found a reliable trade partner besides France and GBR, the Embargo act of 1807 strongly challenged Jefferson’s economic and political view a Nation awaiting bankruptcy. Stating, “The honest payment of our debts and sacred preservation of the public faith; encouragement of agriculture, and of commerce as its handmaid” (Jefferson Doc. A)

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Congress passed the Embargo Act, meaning that America could no longer trade with foreign countries. American ships could no longer travel to foreign countries. Jefferson thought that France and Britain would stop attacking American ships. Well… He was very wrong.

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The major incident that set the United States and Great Britain on the path to war was the Polly Incident of 1800. The ship was subject to impressment by the United Kingdom despite being in compliance with all aspects of neutrality laws. All goods and men aboard the ship were taken by the United Kingdom. However, all goods were returned, and fines were paid, to the United States for violating the ship’s

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Over time people have fought for many reasons. Their beliefs helped shaping the outcome of their battles. In America’s history, there has been many wars. We got our independence by fighting in the Revolutionary War. In the War of 1812, we fought off the British again.

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President Jefferson is currently making attempts to solve the problem. His goal is to avoid any way with Britain and France. Seven months ago, Jefferson announced the Embargo Act. From then on, all trade with foreign countries is banned. No ships will leave or have left American waters.

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This embargo act was a response to the British attacks on the American Ships, and was passed by Congress forbidding any exports from the U.S. Jefferson’s plan was to weaken Britain and France, but despite those good intentions, it failed and left the American economy struggling. The Embargo Act resulted in the first economic depression, and began to hurt New England the worst, but allowed manufacturing to increase. Two years later, during 1809, the embargo was repealed through the Non- Intercourse Act, though this allowed the economy to begin to thrive, it would also lead to the War of

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The Embargo Act of 1807 took place in the times of the Napoleonic Wars. These wars took place from 1803-1815 and consisted of fighting between the french and the european powers over various global conflicts. In these wars Napoleon conquered and ruled a large portion of Europe. The British wanted this no longer because of the political and social impact he had on not only them but also, the world.

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The embargo act trapped America between their alliances to Great Britain and France and in the end caused Thomas Jefferson to isolate the nation completely. Since the idea of staying neutral did not work, posing an embargo on all foreign trade seemed like the best option.

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This act prohibited vessels from leaving American ports for British exports. The elimination of exporting and importing goods brought America into an economic depression. In a letter to Colonel Edward Carrington, Alexander Hamilton, said: “In respect to foreign politics, the views of these gentlemen are, in my judgment unsound and dangerous. They have a womanish attachment to France and a womanish resentment against Great Britain.” Hamilton’s letter clearly illustrates the contradictions between the parties.

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