<P> President Thomas Jefferson acted with restraint as these antagonisms mounted , weighing public support for retaliation . He recommended that Congress respond with commercial warfare , rather than with military mobilization . The Embargo Act was signed into law on December 22 , 1807 . The anticipated effect of this measure -- economic hardship for the belligerent nations -- was expected to chasten Great Britain and France , and force them to end their molestation of American shipping , respect U.S. neutrality , and cease the policy of impressment . The embargo turned out to be impractical as a coercive measure , and was a failure both diplomatically and economically . As implemented , the legislation inflicted devastating burdens on the U.S. economy and the American people . </P>
what was the result of the embargo act
devastating burdens on the U.S. economy and the American people