PERIOD 3 PICTURE
The turtle is an allusion to the hated Embargo Act by Jefferson. The turtle's name, "Ograbme," is the word "embargo" spelled backwards. Also, the fact that the person with the cargo for export is calling the turtle a "cursed Ograbme" emphasizes the disdain people had for the Embargo Act.
Thomas Jefferson implemented the Embargo Act in 1807 in an attempt to stop the British and French from seizing American ships. The Act forbade the exporting of all American goods to other countries. He believed that the French and British needed the United States, so the embargo would punish them for their behavior. However, the United States was more reliant on other countries for trade than Jefferson realized. The American economy suffered greatly under the embargo, and smuggling became a common occurrence. Jefferson wanted to avoid war with the embargo, but the embargo ended up costing more than a war would have, and the country could have paid for a strong Navy instead. However, the embargo did have some positive aspects. It promoted industrialization in America, and it did hurt Britain’s economy. If the embargo was kept a little longer than it was, it may have succeeded. |