What legislative act did Thomas Jefferson support to prohibit American ships from trading abroad?

Thomas Jefferson supported the Embargo Act of 1807, which aimed to prohibit American ships from trading with foreign nations. This legislation was enacted in response to increasing tensions with Britain and France, particularly their interference with American shipping and the impressment of American sailors into British naval service. Jefferson believed that by halting trade, he could avoid war and pressure foreign powers to respect American neutrality. The act reflected his vision of an agrarian America that relied on domestic trade rather than entanglements with foreign conflicts.

The Embargo Act was significant because it marked a shift in American foreign policy aimed at economic coercion rather than military confrontation. This act was intended to protect American interests, although it ultimately led to substantial economic hardship within the United States and was met with widespread opposition, especially from New England merchants who relied heavily on international trade. The act was repealed in 1809 due to its unpopularity and ineffectiveness.