The Embargo Act of 1807: a Bold Experiment in American Diplomacy
Words: 483 2018In the early years of the 19th century, the young United States found itself caught between the warring European powers of Britain and France. The Embargo Act of 1807 was a radical measure implemented by President Thomas Jefferson and Congress in an attempt to assert American neutrality and economic independence. Rather than choosing sides in the ongoing conflict, the U.S. sought to leverage its economic power by halting all American exports, a move intended to coerce Britain and France into […]