Question

Was there any merit at all in Jefferson’s embargo policy? Could some other policy have succeeded? Was Madison’s ill-prepared stumble into war any better than the embargo, or was the United States simply stuck in an impossible position between Britain and France?

Answer 1

Jefferson's embargo policy was his failed attempt at avoiding war. Unfortunately it held no merit and was not beneficial to the United States. Instead of punishing Britain and France, as was Jefferson's intent, it negatively impacted certain United States industries. And it created a negative domino effect, leading to Jefferson's successor, Madison, stumbling into war anyway. Seemingly, Jefferson's policy just postponed war. War was not better than the poorly planned embargo policy. War, in fact, is worse because of the loss of lives. And perhaps that time in between Jefferson's policy and Madison's war would have been better spent planning better policy.