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Jefferson's widespread popularity assured his reelection in 1804. Louisiana was manifestly a great prize, the country was prosperous, and the President had tried hard to please all sections. In his second term, which began in 1805, Jefferson declared American neutrality during the struggle between Great Britain and France, whose forces had set up blockades that struck heavy blows at American commerce. No American craft could trade with France or Britain without threat of seizure.
The British had built their navy to more than 700 warships, manned by nearly 150,000 sailors and marines, which kept Britain safe, protected her commerce, and preserved her communications with her colonies. Yet the men of her fleet were so poorly treated that it was impossible to obtain crews by free enlistment. Many sailors deserted and found refuge on American vessels. In these circumstances, British officers regarded it their right to search American ships and take off British subjects, to the great humiliation of the Americans. Moreover, British officers frequently impressed American seamen into their service.
Jefferson finally persuaded Congress to pass an Embargo Act,
forbidding foreign commerce. The effects of the law were disastrous.
Shipping interests were almost ruined by the measure, and
discontent rose in New England and New York. Agricultural
interests found that they too were suffering heavily, for prices
dropped drastically when the southern and western farmers could
not ship their surplus grain, meat, and tobacco.
In a single year American exports fell to one-fifth of their former volume. But the hope that the embargo would starve Great Britain into a change of policy failed. As the grumbling at home increased, Jefferson turned to a milder measure, which conciliated the domestic shipping interests. Substituted for the embargo was a non-intercourse law that permitted commerce with all countries except Britain or France and their dependencies. This paved the way for negotiations by authorizing the President to suspend the operation of the law against either of these upon the withdrawal of its restrictions upon American trade. In 1810, Napoleon announced that he had abandoned his measures. In fact he continued to maintain them, but the United States took him at his word and thereafter limited its non-intercourse to Great Britain.
In 1809, James Madison succeeded Jefferson. Relations with Great Britain grew worse, and the two countries drifted rapidly toward war. The President laid before Congress a detailed report, showing 6,057 instances in which the British had impressed American citizens. In addition, northwestern settlers had suffered from attacks by Indians, who they believed had been encouraged by British agents in Canada. In 1812, the United States declared war on Britain.
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