Page "Non-Intercourse Act (1809)" Paragraph 1

In the last four days of President Thomas Jefferson's presidency, the United States Congress replaced the Embargo Act of 1807 with the almost unenforceable Non-Intercourse Act of March 1809.

This Act lifted all embargoes on American shipping except for those bound for British or French ports.

The intent was to damage the economies of the United Kingdom and France.

Like its predecessor, the Embargo Act, it was mostly ineffective, and contributed to the coming of the War of 1812.

In addition, it seriously damaged the economy of the United States.

The Non-Intercourse Act was followed by Macon's Bill Number 2.

Despite hurting the economy as a whole, the bill did help America begin to industrialize as no British manufactured goods could be imported and had to be instead produced domestically.