Worksheet # 60 Home Questions Puzzle Links Next

IMPRESSMENT AND EMBARGO

Yes, at daggers again were Great Britain and France

To claim the top spot and have world dominance.

While Jefferson tried hard to heed George’s advice:

Keep out of the way when folks fail to play nice.

But armies embattled do seldom act fair

And America’s seafarers had a need to beware,

As life on the ocean, that vast by-way for trade,

Was exposed to attack, and to plunder and raid.

As cargo was seized and sailors were too,

-- An act called impressment, which made them quite blue.

(Well, just think how you’d feel forced aboard ships,

Kidnapped into battle and such perilous trips!)

Ah, but to get this stop, ‘twas no simple task.

U.S. forces were slender, and could hardly be asked

To go battle with Brits or meet France’s great might.

-- Indeed all did hope to avoid such a plight.

So the President proposed to deal a harsh blow

With a halt to our trade by a complete embargo.

As imports and exports to all far-off nations

Were denied transit until they gave cordial relations.

Alas, the deed was short-sighted and costly as well,

As Americans need also to buy and to sell.

Their crops and their beef soon piled high on the docks,

With no market for goods... they may as well have grown rocks!

Now, with business cut off, the economy slowed,

Leaving Jefferson to watch his favor erode.

As heard about town: Tom’s laws are so lame,

Turn their letters around: ‘o grab me’, it became.

Yet a new term as the Prez, Tom still might have had,

-- Even with our sailors impressed and the economy bad.

But such cares weighed heavy and so it was due:

He took Washington’s lead and left after two...