Embargo Act of 1807

The Embargo Act of 1807 represented Thomas Jefferson's response to England's Orders of Council and France's Continental System, which were severly hurting America's merchant marine. The Act prohibited all American shipping bound for foreign ports and all foreign vessels from taking cargo at American ports. Although designed to force the British and French to change their commercial systems, neither of them did.

It was followed by the Non-Intercourse Act and Macon's Bill Number 2. Attempts to enforce it led to near-rebellion in New England. Sometime ridiculed as the O-grab-me (embargo spelled backwards) act.

It was a precursor to the War of 1812.