Legislation1807
Embargo Act of 1807 Signed
President Thomas Jefferson signed the Embargo Act, prohibiting American ships from trading with all foreign ports. The act was an attempt to use economic pressure rather than military force in response to British and French interference with American shipping.
Why It Matters
The Embargo Act tested the limits of federal power over commerce and demonstrated the tension between executive foreign policy goals and their economic impact on citizens, leading to its repeal in 1809.