How The US and Britain Came Inches From War In 1861

Nearly a perfect gift for the Confederacy

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In the early days of the Civil War, the South was banking on international intervention to help them in their quest for independence. Many believed that the United Kingdom would step in and support the South’s cause. This was believed for two reasons. First, the United Kingdom was still sour about some of the events that took place during and after the War of 1812, in which the United States seemingly took advantage of the British when they were grappling with Napoleon. Second, many believed that Britain’s textile industry would not survive without ample amounts of Southern cotton.

The Federal strategy called for a widespread blockade of the South, which threatened the critical supply of cotton to European markets. The South, at the time, was the world’s leading cotton exporter, so they believed that Britain would not stand for a blockade that could harm their economic interests.

The one thing that the South did not bank on was the vehement opposition to slavery that was present in Europe. They believed that economic interests would trump moral interests. In this, they were wrong. The British could not, in good faith, support the Confederate States of America without undoing years of anti-slavery work.