Final answer:
Much of the country was experiencing hard economic times due to the Embargo Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
The accurate statement describing the United States at the beginning of the War of 1812 is that much of the country was experiencing hard economic times due to the Embargo Act. The Embargo Act of 1807, which was an attempt to hurt Britain and France by blocking American exports, ended up hurting the American economy instead. This caused economic hardships for many Americans and contributed to the country's divided sentiment regarding the war.
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