Non-Intercourse Act

Definition

The Non-Intercourse Act was a law passed by the United States Congress in 1809, replacing the Embargo Act of 1807. It aimed to maintain U.S. neutrality during the Napoleonic Wars between Britain and France by prohibiting trade with these nations.

Analogy

Think of the Non-Intercourse Act as a parent grounding their two quarreling children (Britain and France) from playing with their favorite toy (U.S. trade). The idea is to prevent further fights (conflicts) without picking sides.

Related terms

Embargo Act of 1807: This was an earlier law that prohibited American ships from trading in all foreign ports, an attempt to avoid entanglement in foreign conflicts.

Napoleonic Wars: A series of major global conflicts fought during Napoleon Bonaparte's imperial rule over France (1803–1815).

Neutrality: The policy or status of a nation that does not participate in a war between other nations.