Non-importation Act

Non-Importation Act
Great Seal of the United States
Long titleAn Act to prohibit the importation of certain goods, wares and merchandise.
NicknamesNon-importation Act of 1806
Enacted bythe 9th United States Congress
EffectiveApril 18, 1806
Citations
Public lawPub. L. 9–29
Statutes at LargeStat. 379, Chap. 29
Legislative history
  • Introduced in the House as H.R. 117
  • Passed the House on March 25, 1806 (93-32)
  • Passed the Senate on April 15, 1806 (19-9)
  • Signed into law by President Thomas Jefferson on April 18, 1806

The Non-Importation Act, passed by the United States Congress on April 18, 1806, forbid any kind of import of certain British goods in an attempt to coerce Britain to suspend its impressment of American sailors and to respect American sovereignty and neutrality. The Act was the first in a series of ineffective attempts of Congress and the administrations of President Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to respond economically, instead of militarily, to these British actions and to other consequences of the Napoleonic Wars. The Act was part of the chain of events leading to the War of 1812.