Changes

The '''Embargo of 1807''' and the subsequent '''Nonintercourse Acts''' were American laws restricting  American ships from engaging in foreign trade 1807 and 1812. They failed, and led to the [[War of 1812]] between the U.S. and Britain.

The '''Embargo of 1807''' and the subsequent '''Nonintercourse Acts''' were American laws restricting  American ships from engaging in foreign trade 1807 and 1812. They failed, and led to the [[War of 1812]] between the U.S. and Britain.

Britain and France were engaged in a life-and-death struggle for control of Europe, and the small, remote U.S.A. became a pawn in their game.  The Acts were diplomatic respones by presidents [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James madison]] designed to protect American interests and avoid war.  The failed, and helped cause the war. The Acts were bitterly opposed by New England shipping interests which suffered greatly from them.

Britain and France were engaged in a life-and-death struggle for control of Europe, and the small, remote U.S.A. became a pawn in their game.  The Acts were diplomatic respones by presidents [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James madison]] designed to protect American interests and avoid war.  They failed, and helped cause the war. The Acts were bitterly opposed by New England shipping interests which suffered greatly from them.

After a short truce the European wars resumed and contuinued until the defeat of Napoleon in 1814. (He returned for 100 days in 1815 but that had no bearing on the U.S.) The war caused U.S. relations with both England and France to deteriorate rapidly. There was grave risk of war with one or the other. With England supreme on the sea, and France on the land, the war developed into a struggle of blockade and counterblockade. This commercial war peaked in 1806 and 1807. The British Royal Navy shut down most European harbors to American ships unless they first traded through British ports. France declared a paper blockade of Britain (which it lacked a navy to enforce) and seized American ships that obeyed British regulations.

After a short truce the European wars resumed and contuinued until the defeat of Napoleon in 1814. (He returned for 100 days in 1815 but that had no bearing on the U.S.) The war caused U.S. relations with both England and France to deteriorate rapidly. There was grave risk of war with one or the other. With England supreme on the sea, and France on the land, the war developed into a struggle of blockade and counterblockade. This commercial war peaked in 1806 and 1807. The British Royal Navy shut down most European harbors to American ships unless they first traded through British ports. France declared a paper blockade of Britain (which it lacked a navy to enforce) and seized American ships that obeyed British regulations.