Question

To what degree did Britain get involved in the American Civil War?

Assess the importance of that degree of involvement to the North and to the South.
Review key events involving the British (cotton, grain, Trent affair, Alabama, and Laird rams). (See boxed quotes on page 429 and page 430.)

Answer 1

The British Involvement

Britain was engaged without proclaiming which side they were on. The south relied on the protection of Britain, but they did not get it. The British Government needed to help the Confederacy. British common people were anti-slavery. British had a sufficient supply of cotton and did not need the South for that supply.

Given bad crop yields, Britain was pressured to import grain from the North

The Trent Affair

First major crisis in late 1861, with Britain. A British ship was stopped by Union warship and 2 Confederate Delegates removed. Slow communication has given UK time to calm down.

Alabama

British made a Confederate Warship. The ship picked up arms in Cuba. Union merchant ships were captured and burned. Canada was invaded by the north.

Laird Rams

Two huge warships made in the UK. Fabricated to sink Union ships. Had they supported the West, Canada would have been overrun by the East.