Macon's Bill Number 2
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| Long title | An Act concerning the commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France, and their dependencies, and for other purposes. |
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| Citations | |
| Statutes at Large | 2 Stat. 605 |
| Legislative history | |
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| Origins of the War of 1812 |
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Macon's Bill Number 2,
The law lifted all embargoes with Britain and France for three months. It stated that if either belligerent ceased disrupting American shipping, the United States would embargo the other, unless that other country also agreed to cease disrupting American shipping.[3]
Napoleon successfully exploited the bill to further his Continental System, effectively a French embargo on Britain that France tried to enforce on continental Europe, and to damage British-American relations. A message was sent to the United States, purporting to agree to the law's demand. President James Madison, a staunch opponent of the bill, had little choice but to accept Napoleon's ostensibly sincere offer. However, as Madison suspected, Napoleon's purpose was manipulative. When Britain threatened force against the United States in response, Napoleon reneged anyway, having achieved his goal of pushing the United States and Britain closer to the eventual War of 1812.[3]
Notes
- ^ Formally known as "An Act concerning the commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France, and their dependencies, and for other purposes."
- ISBN 9780805069051.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-547-21824-3. Retrieved 21 December 2011.