Final answer:
Jefferson responded to the Chesapeake affair with the Embargo Act of 1807 to avoid military conflict, aiming to pressure Britain and France economically to respect American neutrality. The act, however, was unsuccessful and led to significant domestic economic hardship and political fallout.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Thomas Jefferson responded to the Chesapeake affair by choosing a path of economic warfare rather than military conflict. In 1807, after the HMS Leopard attacked the USS Chesapeake and impressed American sailors, there was a public outcry for Jefferson to take action. Jefferson desired to avoid a military conflict because he believed in diplomacy and wanted to prevent the human and financial costs of war. Consequently, he enacted the Embargo Act of 1807, which prohibited American ships from trading with foreign nations, as an alternative to direct conflict. Jefferson hoped the economic strain would compel Britain and France to respect American neutrality. Unfortunately, the Act failed to influence British and French policies while causing significant economic hardship for American merchants and losing political support for Jefferson and the Republican Party.