Embargo Act
an act passed by the American Congress, Dec. 22, 1807, prohibiting exportations from the United States. The act was a measure of retaliation against England and France for their interference with American commerce in 1806-1807, and aimed at forcing them to recede from their position by showing the importance of our commercial relations. It had some effect on these nations, but a far more ruinous result on our own commerce. It was a measure of the Democratic party, and was approved by the agricultural portions of the United States. The New England States, deeply interested in foreign commerce, and the Federalists loudly condemned it. Its opponents, spelling the name backward, called it the "O grab me" Act, and threats of secession were heard from New England. As a result, Congress fixed March 4, 1809, for the termination of the embargo. The first embargo in our history was laid in 1794 for a period of 60 days, and other minor acts of a similar nature were passed during the War of 1812. The plan of limiting commercial intercourse by emcourse acts was called the "restrictive system." In the course of the World course acts was called the "restrictive system." In the course of the World War (1914-1918) attempts were made by pro-Germans, pacifists, and wellbargo on the shipment of arms to Enbargo on the shipment of arms to En-