Embargo Act Law and Legal Definition
The Embargo Act of 1807 restricted the trade between America and other countries. The Act is the result of the restrictions on commercial trading by Britain and France. The object of the Act is to remove the restrictions through economic pressure.
The provisions were:
1. the Act created a ban on all ships and vessels in the jurisdiction of the U.S.;
2. the Act barred ships and vessels from obtaining clearance for voyages to foreign ports;
3. the Act empowered the President of the U.S. to make exceptions;
4. the Act authorized the president to enforce the provisions through revenue officers and Navy;
5. the Act permits the departure of foreign ships;
6. the Act requires from the merchant ships a security or a bond for voyage between the U.S. ports; and
7. the Act exempted warships from its purview.
The Act was a great failure and in fact backfired. The result of the enactment is the distress faced by the citizens of the U.S.
The Act became dormant in 1809.