Question

In 1861, the British government demanded the release of two Confederate diplomats arrested while on the __________, an English steamer.

Answer 1

The British government demanded the release of two Confederate diplomats, James Mason and John Slidell, who were arrested on the Trent, an English steamer, in 1861, leading to the Trent Affair.

Step-by-step explanation:

In 1861, the British government demanded the release of two Confederate diplomats arrested while on the Trent, an English steamer. The incident known as the Trent Affair escalated tensions between the United States and Great Britain during the American Civil War. The diplomats, James Mason and John Slidell, were en route to England and France to seek support for the Confederacy. Their seizure by the U.S. Navy was viewed as a violation of international law, particularly because they were on a neutral vessel. The British government viewed this as open season on American ships and a precursor to war; they demanded their immediate release to avoid further conflict.