Why did Jefferson pass the Embargo Act?
Moreover, why was the Embargo Act passed?
The Embargo Act, passed by Congress on 22 December 1807, was designed to punish France and Britain as well as protect American shipping from any further acts of aggression by either nation. The act forbade American ships and goods from leaving American ports except for those vessels in the coastal trade.
Beside above, why was the Embargo Act so unpopular?
He believed that economic coercion would convince Britain and France to respect America's neutral rights. The embargo was an unpopular and costly failure. It hurt the American economy far more than the British or French, and resulted in widespread smuggling.
In 1807 the United States Congress passed an Embargo Act that prohibited American ships from trading in all foreign ports. The Embargo Act was extremely unpopular in America, however, as it greatly affected the nation's own economy. The act was repealed in 1809.