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“The role of foreign powers had a significant effect on the outcome of the…
“The role of foreign powers had a significant effect on the outcome of the United
States Civil War.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
THESIS
The role of foreign powers in the Civil War has been debated by historians over time. Both the North and South wanted to gain the support of specific major powers to enable them to take advantage of both military and financial assistance. Hence, there is a the direct influence of foreign nations in the Civil War, despite efforts by the Confederacy in particular is debatable.
Most nations remained "officially neutral" throughout the entirety of the war (although most favoured one or the other)
This neutrality for the most part, however, did not keep European countries from participating in various ways.
HISTORIOGRAPHY
Kevin Peraino
Argued that Lincoln felt that demonstration of strength at home would have an impact on the minds of European statesmen. Therefore, while the Civil War was primarily a domestic conflict, it was fought with foreign policy in mind.
Great Britain
Great Britain relied heavily on the South for its cotton, to power its textile factories. However, the British had large quantities piled up to last through an extended stall in shipments
The Union was worried that if Britain recognised the Confederacy (and therefore the Union was against them) they may lose Canada
Also, the Union could harm British merchant ships and possibly cut off supplies of American-produced food products
Therefore, Great Britain remained neutral and was able to work out a deal for continuous trade with both sides
However, trade with the Confederacy fell by 90 percent after the beginning of the war. Only a little cotton was able to get to England, and a few munitions made it to Confederacy ports.
Strongest example of support was Great Britain building 2 Confederacy warships at a British shipyard. The Union was obviously opposed to this, and after the war, they received $15.5 million in arbitration for the damage caused by the two warships
France
While France remained technically neutral, just like Great Britain, it did consider siding with
the Confederacy.
France repeatedly tried to convince Great Britain to join them in their Confederate support
& risk war with the North.
The French wanted not only the cotton the South provided, but they also had an interest in creating an empire in Mexico. They thought they could more easily take the region with Confederate help.
The people of France were not entirely in agreement. The Confederacy was endorsed by those who also supported Napoleon III and the Roman Catholics. French Republicans supported the Union.
During the war, the Union cut off the supply of cotton to France, causing what was known as the cotton famine.
Mexico
Some Mexicans wanted the French to use Confederate influence to create a gateway to Mexico. These Mexican conservatives thought the French would remove the current liberal Mexican president.
Supplies gifted from France to the Confederacy, arriving from overseas, travelled overland
via Mexico and into Texas.
Russia
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Russian Navy sent two fleets to American waters just in case Great Britain and France joined
the war. They stayed there for seven months.
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