Smuggling--The Embargo Act completely restricted US trade and the New Englanders could trade easily with Great Britain through Canada.
The Embargo Act was put into place during the Napoleonic Wars between Britain and France. Great Britain was taking over US ships and forcing citizens to fight for the British army/navy. Jefferson responded with an embargo to force Britain to stop through economic means. However smuggling made the embargo ineffective as well as a lack of support from NE Federalists.