The Embargo Act of 1807 was a general trade embargo on all foreign nations that was enacted by the United States Congress. During the Napoleonic Wars, rival nations Britain and France targeted neutral American shipping as a means to disrupt the trade of the other nation. At Jefferson's request, the two houses of Congress considered and passed the Embargo Act quickly in December 1807. All U.S. ports were closed to export shipping in either U.S. or foreign vessels, and restrictions were placed on imports from Great Britain. American president Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican Party) led Congress to pass the Embargo Act of 1807. Effects on American shipping and markets: Agricultural prices and earnings fell. Shipping-related industries were devastated. What was unusual about the Embargo Act of 1807? It stopped all American vessels from sailing to foreign ports— amazing use of federal power, especially by a president who wanted to avoid that and foreign entanglements. The diplomatic neutrality of the United States was tested during the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). The warring nations of Britain and France both imposed trade restrictions in order to weaken each other's economies. These restrictions also disrupted American trade and threatened American neutrality. In the last sixteen days of President Thomas Jefferson's presidency, Congress replaced the Embargo Act of 1807 with the almost unenforceable Non-Intercourse Act of March 1809. This Act lifted all embargoes on American shipping except for those bound for British or French ports.
