Essential Facts
- The Orders in Council affected American access to French-controlled ports in France and its territories while Britain was at war with France.
- The Orders were directed at France but affected neutral nations, like the United States.
- The U.S. tried to protect its trade rights with laws like the Non-Importation Act of 1806, the Embargo Act of 1807, and Macon’s Bill No. 2.
- The 1807 Orders in Council increased tensions between the U.S. and Britain and are viewed as a cause of the War of 1812.
Dates
- May 16, 1806 — Orders in Council established the “Fox Blockade” on ports between the Elbe River and Brest, restricting access for American ships.
- January 7, 1807 — Orders in Council prohibited American ships from trading between French-controlled ports on the Continent.
- November 11, 1807 — Orders in Council required American ships carrying British goods to stop in British ports to pay duties and acquire a license before sailing to French-controlled ports on the Continent.
- April 26, 1809 — Orders in Council opened trade with Spain and Portugal but prohibited trade in areas under French control.
- September 6, 1811 — Orders in Council blocked American merchants from selling salt fish in the West Indies.
- June 23, 1812 — Orders in Council were revoked.
Significance
The British Orders in Council are important to American History because they were part of the trade war between Britain and France that affected the United States during the New Nation Era. Although the U.S. tried to defend its trade rights as a neutral nation, Britain continued to harass American ships, which contributed to the outbreak of the War of 1812.
Overview and History
Orders in Council were a type of legislation enacted by the British monarchy with the approval of the Privy Council. They did not require the approval of Parliament. During the French Napoleonic Wars, Britain was at war with France. As part of the conflict, Britain used Orders in Council to restrict merchant ships from neutral nations, like the United States, from sailing to French-controlled ports in Europe (the Continent). While the Orders in Council were intended to disrupt French trade, they also impacted the U.S. economy, increased tensions with and contributed to the War of 1812.
British Orders in Council APUSH
The British Orders in Council are part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History curriculum:
Unit 4: 1800–1848
- Topic 4.4 — America on the World Stage
American Pageant Notes
- Chapter 11 — Triumphs and Travails of the Jeffersonian Republic (1800–1812)
- Chapter 12 — The Second War for Independence and the Upsurge of Nationalism (1812–1824)
