Legislation by the U.S. Congress in December 1807 that closed U.S. ports to all exports and restricted imports from Britain.
The act was Pres. Napoleonic Wars . The embargo had little effect in Europe, but it imposed an unpopular restriction on New England merchants and exporters (see Hartford Convention ). Legislation passed in 1809 lifted the embargo, but continued British interference with U.S. shipping led to the War of 1812 .