The Embargo Act, passed by the United States Congress in December 1807 during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, played a significant role in shaping the nation’s foreign policy and domestic economy. To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of this historical event, teachers must address key aspects of the act, including its goals, consequences, and impact on the struggling early American Republic.
Background and Context
Begin your lesson by providing historical context leading up to the passage of the Embargo Act. Discuss the tensions between Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars and the resulting harassment of American ships by both countries. Explain how Jefferson drafted this legislation as a peaceful alternative to going to war with either European power.
Goals of the Embargo Act
Teach your students about Jefferson’s primary goals for implementing the Embargo Act:
1. Protect American merchant ships from British and French aggression.
2. Assert American neutrality in foreign conflicts.
3. Use economic pressure to force Britain and France to respect American sovereignty.
Negative Consequences
However, ensure your students understand that the act had several unintended consequences:
1. Severe economic downturn – With trade halted, merchants lost revenue, industries stagnated, and unemployment rose.
2. Smuggling increase – Americans attempted to circumvent the embargo by smuggling goods across land borders or through private shipping routes.
3. Constitutional controversy – Critics argued that the federal government had overstepped its authority in regulating commerce so strictly.
Debate Over Repeal
Engage students in discussing arguments for and against repealing the Embargo Act and whether it succeeded or failed in achieving its intended goals. Encourage them to consider various perspectives—particularly those of merchants, agricultural producers, politicians, and ordinary citizens—and weigh their opinions on whether repealing would have been more beneficial for the nation.
End of the Embargo
Conclude your lesson by explaining how growing hardships and opposition led to the Embargo Act’s eventual repeal in 1809, replaced by the Non-Intercourse Act. Ensure students grasp how these events influenced future foreign policy and economic growth, while also encouraging them to critically evaluate the effectiveness of embargoes as a diplomatic tool.
