How did Thomas Jefferson respond to increasing naval tensions with Britain?

The correct choice reflects Thomas Jefferson's approach to dealing with increasing naval tensions with Britain during his presidency, particularly around the time leading up to the War of 1812. Jefferson pursued a policy of economic pressure as a means of dealing with British maritime actions, which were infringing on American shipping rights and leading to the impressment of American sailors.

By banning British ships from U.S. ports, Jefferson aimed to exert pressure on Britain without resorting to military confrontation. This was part of his broader strategy of implementing the Embargo Act of 1807, which halted trade with all foreign nations. Jefferson believed that cutting off trade would harm Britain economically and compel them to respect American neutrality and maritime rights. This approach was consistent with his vision of a smaller federal government and reliance on economic measures over military ones.

In contrast, increasing naval ship construction, initiating diplomatic discussions, or declaring war would signify a more direct military or confrontational approach to the issue, which Jefferson was generally reluctant to take. Instead, his focus was on using economic sanctions to influence British behavior, even though the embargo ultimately had mixed results and negatively affected the U.S. economy as well.