Non-importation Act
Encyclopedia
The Non-Importation Act was an act passed by the United States Congress
on April 18, 1806, which forbade the importation of certain British goods in an attempt to coerce Great Britain
to suspend its impressment of American sailors and to respect American sovereignty and neutrality on the high seas. This was the first attempt of President Thomas Jefferson
's administration to respond economically, instead of militarily, to the British actions. The act was suspended, but was quickly replaced by the Embargo Act of 1807
, which imposed more trade restrictions with Britain, as well as with France
. Another definition is an act passed by Congress on March 25, 1806, before the War of 1812, to ban certain imports from Britain. It was an attempt to counter British violations of neutrality and to compel Britain to accept American demands. Upon approval, use of the act was suspended until November 15 to allow for a British response to the threat of losing its American market.
The Non-Important Act failed due to the past boycotts that American had had against Britain in the pre-revolutionary times. Since the British were fighting Napoleon, who wished to rule the world, they viewed Americans as fighting for their rights, while Britain was fighting for what was morally correct.
In 1807 Thomas Jefferson implemented the act along with an embargo when Britain attacked the USS Chesapeake
.
This act was one of the first acts passed by the United States towards Britain before the War of 1812. Articles such as the Non-intercourse Act (1809) and Embargo Act (1807) were to follow.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
on April 18, 1806, which forbade the importation of certain British goods in an attempt to coerce Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
to suspend its impressment of American sailors and to respect American sovereignty and neutrality on the high seas. This was the first attempt of President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's administration to respond economically, instead of militarily, to the British actions. The act was suspended, but was quickly replaced by the Embargo Act of 1807
Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 and the subsequent Nonintercourse Acts were American laws restricting American ships from engaging in foreign trade between the years of 1807 and 1812. The Acts were diplomatic responses by presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison designed to protect American interests...
, which imposed more trade restrictions with Britain, as well as with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Another definition is an act passed by Congress on March 25, 1806, before the War of 1812, to ban certain imports from Britain. It was an attempt to counter British violations of neutrality and to compel Britain to accept American demands. Upon approval, use of the act was suspended until November 15 to allow for a British response to the threat of losing its American market.
The Non-Important Act failed due to the past boycotts that American had had against Britain in the pre-revolutionary times. Since the British were fighting Napoleon, who wished to rule the world, they viewed Americans as fighting for their rights, while Britain was fighting for what was morally correct.
In 1807 Thomas Jefferson implemented the act along with an embargo when Britain attacked the USS Chesapeake
USS Chesapeake
Five ships of the United States Navy have been named Chesapeake after the Chesapeake Bay, the body of water along Maryland and Virginia., a 38-gun frigate in commission from 1800 to 1813...
.
This act was one of the first acts passed by the United States towards Britain before the War of 1812. Articles such as the Non-intercourse Act (1809) and Embargo Act (1807) were to follow.