|
Europe at the time of the American Civil War was still dominated by monarchies. Virtually from the foundation of an American independence, European rulers believed that a democratic republic was unworkable and would not last. There was surprise that the United States lasted as long as it had and had achieved some success. When the southern states seceded, many Europeans were convinced that separation and breakup was inevitable. Early Confederate successes further confirmed that opinion. Fortunately, President Davis was not much interested in diplomacy. He and many other confederates just assumed that European dependence on southern cotton would ultimately result in European intervention. Two European countries in the 1860s possessed powerful navies that could had intervened in the Civil War--Britain and France. Both had important economic interests at stake. Official and non-official Confederate agents were present in Europe, especially Britain and France. They did not prove very effective. President Davis decided a greater efforts were needed, resulting in the Trent Affair which had the potential of spiraling out of control (November 1861). The American South at the time was the world's primary source of long-fiber cotton used by the textile mills in both countries. The Industrial Revolution in both countries began with the textile industry and textiles were still a major sector of the industrial economy in both countries. The Federal blockade by October 1861 was beginning to effectively close Southern ports and cut off both countries from American raw cotton. The result in Britain, especially Lancastershire where many mills were located in and around Manchester, was the Cotton Famine of 1861-65 which threw thousands of mill workers off their jobs. Mill Owners wanted access to Southern cotton (there were at the time only limited alternatives available) and pressured the Government to recognize the Confederacy and even use the Royal Navy to break the Union Blockade. There was also continued resentment in aristocratic circles over the American Revolution and republican government. (America in 1861 was the only republic of any significance.) English workers identified, however, with the freeing of the slaves even though many were thrown out of work. There is today in Manchester city center near city hall a Lincoln Close. It is named after President Lincoln and in the center is a statue to him. It commemorates the Cotton Famine. Despite the personal cost to the people of Manchester, the statue was put up by public subscription as a monument to the struggle for emancipation in America the part ordinary Lancastershire weavers played in it. There was also a strong abolitionist lobby in Victorian Britain. One of the last achievements of Prince Albert in 1861 was to convince the Government not to become involved to support the Confederacy. Even so the Government permitted the blockade runner Alabama to be secretly built. Lincoln for political reasons, primarily to keep the critically important Border States in the Union, did not initially make the conflict a war for emancipation. Once the Emancipation Proclamation was announced (October 1862), the possibility of European intervention receded. Emperor Louis Napoleon in France, however, did use the opportunity to intervene in Mexico. The problem for Confederate diplomats was that slavery was by the 1860s so toxic, especially in Britain that no government was going to recognize the Confederacy as long as it championed slavery. There was uneasiness in Europe among mostly elite groups about the rising power of the United States and racist ideas were becoming even more prevalent, but slavery was a step too far for the Europeans. After President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation (January 1863), there would be no possibility of European recognition.
Europe at the time of the American Civil War was still dominated by monarchies. Virtually from the foundation of an American independence, European rulers believed that a democratic republic was unworkable and would not last. Remember, at the time of the Civil War, the United States was the only successful republic. Lincoln referred to in his magisterial Gettysburg Address. There were republics in Latin America, but not very successful ones. Europeans were surprised that the United States lasted as long as it had and had achieved considerable success. When the southern states seceded, many Europeans were convinced that separation and breakup was inevitable. Early Confederate successes further confirmed that opinion. Fortunately, President Davis was not much interested in diplomacy. He and many other confederates just assumed that European dependence on southern cotton would ultimately result in European intervention. He did not fully understand that the Confederacy's connection with slavery meant that European support was problematic.
Only two European countries in the 1860s possessed powerful navies that could had intervened in the Civil War--Britain and France. Both had important economic interests at stake. Official and non-official Confederate agents were present in Europe, especially Britain and France. They did not prove very effective. The American South at the time was the world's primary source of long-fiber cotton used by the textile mills in both countries. The Industrial Revolution in both countries began with the textile industry and textiles were still a major sector of the industrial economy in both Britain and France. There was uneasiness in Europe among mostly elite groups about the rising power of the United States and racist ideas were becoming even more prevalent. Volkish idea were becoming more important in Germany, but Germany did not have a Navy Slavery would prove to be a step too far for the Europeans.
Britain was the greatest industrial power in the world at he time, but America was rapidly closing in on Britain's industrial leadership. Britain possessed a Navy with the potential of breaking the Federal blockade. The blockade organized very rapidly by the Federal Government began to effectively close Southern ports and cut off both Britain an France from American raw cotton. The result in Britain, especially Lancastershire where many mills were located in and around Manchester, was the Cotton Famine of 1861-65 which threw thousands of mill workers off their jobs. Mill owners wanted access to Southern cotton (there were at the time only limited alternatives available) and pressured the Government to recognize the Confederacy and even use the Royal Navy to break the Federal Blockade. There was also continued resentment in aristocratic circles over the American Revolution and republican government. (America in 1861 was the only republic of any significance.) English workers identified, however, with the freeing of the slaves even though many were thrown out of work. There is today in Manchester city center near city hall a Lincoln Close. It is named after President Lincoln and in the center is a statue to him. It commemorates the Cotton Famine. Despite the personal cost to the people of Manchester, the statue was put up by public subscription as a monument to the struggle for emancipation in America the part ordinary Lancastershire weavers played in it. There was also a strong abolitionist lobby in Victorian Britain. When Britain failed to recognize the Confederacy as expected, President Davis decided a greater diplomatic effort was needed. He dispatched James Mason and John Slidell to London, resulting in the Trent Affair which had the potential of spiraling out of control (November 1861). Prime-Minister Palmerston who originated the term 'gun-boat diplomacy, was not about to take a step that would enrage mill workers throughout Britain and the powerful abolitionist lobby. There is only one matter that could overcome this and that was a rash Yankee affront to British dignity, raising nationalistic outrage. One of the great achievements of Prince Albert, who was on his death bed, advised Queen Victoria to convince the Government not to become involved to support the Confederacy. He suggested a measured response to the U.S. Navy seizure of the RMS Trent instead of the strident note the Government was preparing. If that note had been delivered, the implications are incalculable. Even so the Government permitted the blockade runner Alabama to be not so secretly built. Lincoln for political reasons, primarily to keep the critically important Border States in the Union, did not initially make the conflict a war for emancipation. Once the Emancipation Proclamation was announced (October 1862), the possibility of European intervention receded. The problem for Confederate diplomats was that slavery was by the 1860s so toxic, especially in Britain, that no government was going to recognize the Confederacy as long as it championed slavery. After President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation (January 1863), there would be no possibility of European recognition.
France also had a substantial navy. I was no where near the size of the British Royal Navy, but it was a sizeable modern navy. France also had cotton mills that were dependent on American cotton. The Confederates also hoped France would intervene. French Emperor Louis Napoleon/Napoleon III did not, even though the Confederates dangled the opportunity of regaining Canada in front of him. The prospect of war with Britain was not enticing. Napoleon III did, however, use the opportunity to intervene in Mexico, using unpaid debts as an excuse. Emperor Napoleon used French troops to install an Austrian archduke (Maximilian) in power (December 1861)
Germany did not yet exist as a unified state. German nationalism was rising and by 1860 it was clear that it was an irresistible force. Prussia and Austria were competing as under whose auspices that unification would be achieved. It would be Prussia that would achieve unification (1871). A united Germany would replace France as the most powerful continental power. Nationalism was not he only powerful force rising in German. Also rising was racist Volkish ideas along Hegelian philosophy and complimentary ides promoted by Nietzsche and Marx. These ideas were very different than the ideas prominent in the English speaking world, promoted by authors like Smith, Locke, and Mill. One shudders to think what would have happened in the 20h century if Germany rather than facing a united American Republic could have forged an alliance with a intensely racist southern Confederacy.
Mee, Arthur, J.A. Hammerton, and Arthur D. Innes. Harmsworth History of the World Volume 7 (Carmelite House: London, 1907).
Navigate the CIH Civil War Pages:
[Return to Main Civil War page]
[Return to the Main Civil War page]
[Biographies]
[Campaign]
[Causes]
[Emancipation]
[Families and youth]
[Fiscal policy]
[Formations and units]
[Law]
[Railroads]
[Reconstruction]
[Slavery]
[Soldiers]
[Uniforms]
[Weaponry]
[Importance]
[Lost Cause]
[Civil Rights movement]
[Return to CIH Home page]
