NONINTERCOURSE ACT

NONINTERCOURSE ACT. In 1807, in response to violations by France and England to American sovereignty, Congress closed its ports and prohibited international trade. The Embargo Act, however, failed to change the French and English policy toward the United States. As a result, Congress lifted the comprehensive embargo on American commercial activity and passed a new act designed to punish only those nations who violated American neutrality.

On 1 March 1809, the Nonintercourse Act replaced the Embargo Act, allowing transatlantic trade to resume. The act, which went into effect on 20 May, suspended trade with only France and England until one of them would "revoke or modify her edicts, as that they shall cease to violate the neutral commerce of the United States." The act prohibited their ships from entering American ports and decreed it illegal for citizens of the United States to have "any intercourse with, or to afford any aid or supplies" to any French or English ships. The act also authorized naval officers and customs officials to seize merchandise from ships in violation of the law.

Unfortunately, the Nonintercourse Act, like the Embargo Act, failed to change French and English policy. It was repealed on 1 May 1810 in favor of what became known as Macon's Bill No. 2, which conceded defeat and reopened trade with both nations.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Smelser, Marshall. The Democratic Republic: 1801–1815. New York: Harper, 1968.

KeithPacholl

See alsoEmbargo Act ; Macon's Bill No. 2 .