Embargo Act, a law passed by the United States Congress in 1807, prohibiting the sailing from any American port of any merchant vessel save coasting vessels. It was superseded in 1809 by a non-intercourse Act forbidding British or French vessels to enter American ports. This was also described as an embargo, and was one of the causes of the War of 1812.

Source : W. Stewart WALLACE, ed., The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. II, Toronto, University Associates of Canada, 1948, 411p., p. 290.