ABSTRACT
The British were especially hostile to American trading vessels, accosting merchant ships and impressing thousands of sailors and depositing them into the Royal Navy to fight the French. Repeated diplomatic efforts to put an end to the harassment had failed. More drastic steps were required but Jefferson had vowed to avoid a wasteful war that would drain America of precious blood and treasure. James Sullivan and Levi Lincoln came to power just when the heady days of rapid commercial growth and wealth in Massachusetts had started to fade, thanks to the dueling blockades between warring Britain and France. The effects of the embargo came down hard and fast on Portland, whose shipping commerce had been the bedrock of the town's prosperity. Republican loyalty was put to the test in the April gubernatorial election that pitted James Sullivan and Levi Lincoln against Christopher Gore and David Cobb.
