Final answer:
Britain and France used naval blockades to prevent each other from receiving goods, leading to the U.S. Embargo Act of 1807 which halted American ships to protect neutral maritime rights. American ships kept sailing due to economic necessities and the profits of neutral trade, despite the risk. Jefferson wanted to avoid war due to America's weak military and the potential economic consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
To prevent each other from receiving goods during periods of conflict, Britain and France employed various strategies, most notably naval blockades. To counteract this, the United States under President Thomas Jefferson implemented the Embargo Act of 1807, which stopped American ships from leaving their ports in the hope that it would force Britain and France to respect American neutrality and maritime rights. American ships continued to sail for various reasons including the economic necessity of trade and the potential profits from neutral trade during wartime, despite the risks involved from the ongoing conflict between Britain and France.
Jefferson had hoped to avoid a military conflict because of the young nation's relatively weak military and the potential devastating impacts of war on the U.S. economy. Britain and France, engaged in a state of war, prioritized their national interests over American neutrality, expressing little concern over violating American rights. Their actions, including the blockade and unrestricted warfare, were driven by the desire to weaken their enemy's economic capability and thus gain an advantage in the war.