When examining the American Civil War, the involvement and input of the foreign countries are usually overlooked. During the course of the Civil War, many European nations remained extremely cautious when dealing with the United States. Many countries remained neutral and thus did not show any inclination towards any side. The Civil War in the US started in 1861 and involved two warring sides; the Northern and the Southern states that fought over several things including slavery, westward expansion, and state's rights. The War Between the States, as it was known, ended in 1865 and was described as the deadliest and costliest war ever fought in America. Despite the fact that many countries remained largely neutral due to fear of an altercation with the US, Great Britain became increasingly involved in the war until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln which prompted Britain to reconsider its allegiance with the Southern States.
The Port Of Liverpool
The port of Liverpool was an essential place for the Confederate States. It became a fundamental location for the cause of the Confederacy due to the vast array of the private businesses and citizens whose aim was to profit from the American Civil War. Confederate ships such as the CSS Florida, CSS Alabama, and the CSS Shenandoah were all built in Liverpool. 1 After their construction, they were purchased by the Confederate States of America’s Navy. The main function of the ships included fighting and destroying Union ships and seizing Union Merchant ships and diverting the supplies to the Confederate forces. The companies in Liverpool began to construct ships that would be used to run the Union blockade where it was estimated that a profit of 700% would be made per trip. Therefore, the prospect of profits was the major reason why Britain played a critical role in assisting the Confederate Navy. Liverpool was both a useful and ideal location where the Confederate navy could strategize on its way of attacking the Union.
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The ports of Liverpool continued with their endeavor in manufacturing numerous ships of many kinds that would help the Confederate in accomplish their cause. It developed into a major manufacturing center and also acted as a base for all the Confederate operations. Therefore, the use of Liverpool as a staging ground and an industrial center demonstrated a severe lack of neutrality on the part of Britain with regards to the American Civil War. Great Liverpool, through its ports, produced ironclads and blockade runner ships that remained crucial for the Confederate States. For instance, the use of the blockade runners allowed the navy belonging to the Confederate States to receive shipments and supplies from Britain hence giving it leverage on its war against the Union. On the other hand, the ironclad ships gave the Confederate states an opportunity to fight against the Union forces, which already had an established navy. Therefore, a vital factor to note is that without the input of Great Britain, the Confederate States would not have achieved the much-needed impetus they had in confronting the Union. Previously, they had limited resources and thus could not have survived on their own against the much better Union States.
The port of Liverpool became the unofficial location for the embassy belonging to the Confederate states. Additionally, Britain contributed to the war by commissioning warships and facilitating the smuggling of goods to and from the confederate controlled land. The Union and Great Britain developed animosity due to the former's actions of allowing the Confederacy to use Liverpool. Great Britain was even tempted to join the American Civil War in favor of the Confederate States. However, the critical role played by Abraham Lincoln in the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 caused Britain to contemplate their position and role in the war.
Economic Ties
Even after America's independence, the US and Britain remained close economic partners sharing not only commercial activities but also social and cultural ties. However, the two nations were also great competitors with each having a sense of suspicion against the other. British invested considerably in the US and also had cotton mills which relied on the Southern States for raw materials. The Confederate States had a notion that the European dependence on the cotton would ultimately speed up the recognition for their independence, a factor that eventually led to their secession from the Union. 2 The main reason for the involvement of Great Britain in the American Civil War was down to its economic interests. Vast amounts of cotton that served the entire world had their source in the Southern States during the mid-nineteenth century. However, soon, the Southern States seceded from the Union, hence forcing Britain to remain careful not to engage in another war with the US. This was according to the doctrine that stated that any foreign nation that in one way or the other aided a rebellious state would be in direct conflict with the United States. In doing so, the US had issued a global decree that warned against foreign involvement in its internal matters. However, Great Britain ignored this and continued pursuing trade and commerce with the Confederate states. Queen Victoria, on May 13 th , 1861, issued a proclamation of neutrality asserting that her government would remain officially neutral in the domestic affairs of the US for the remaining part of the war. She further instructed the British citizens to observe the neutrality strictly. 3
British Attitudes towards the North and the South
Understanding how the British felt about the North and the South is useful especially in appreciating their involvement in the Civil War. Different classes of the British society had varied inclinations towards the two sides. The ruling and the middle class in Britain perceived the Sothern states as a reflection of their aristocratic and gentlemanly philosophy. 4 However, they could not say the same about the Northern states which presented a severe industrial competition with Britain. Therefore, most of the British that offered their support towards the Southern States did so in fear of the Northern industrial competition. On the other hand, lower-middle, working class, and the radicals viewed the North as an embodiment of democracy, antislavery, and industrialization. The Emancipation Proclamation galvanized support for the Union among many citizens of Britain, who felt that the war was a campaign for democracy and an end to slavery. Critical to note is that the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 made the Civil War turn into a matter of slavery and ethics. Great Britain had initially forbidden slavery in its lands starting from 1833. As such, the discourse on slavery changed the British's official position on the Civil War and announced an end to neutrality. It further condemned the Confederate States for their continued expansion and use of slavery.
Private Involvements
Despite the proclamation of neutrality by the queen of Great Britain, many private British businesses and citizens funded the cause taken by the Confederate. A majority of the Confederate navy forces was developed in Liverpool during the Civil War using money that belonged to private entities. Most of the rich people in Britain sent money to the Confederacy in the hope that they would end the war. In a show that Britain also facilitated the war on both sides, it sent immigrants who would proceed to settle in the North. Also, companies and wealthy individuals supplied weapons and other materials to the two sides in a bid to fuel the war. Scotland, for instance, sent blockade-running ships and military. Some firms in Great Britain directly support materials that facilitated the war including uniforms among other supplies to both armies in different directions. It is vital to appreciate that the official government position of Great Britain was neutrality. However, this was continuously ignored especially by the private entities that had vested interest in the cause of the war. The Civil War was primarily based on issues of slavery. 5 At this particular time, slavery had been banned in Britain, and various factions such as the Welsh and the Church amongst others had started a public campaign against slavery. The more significant implication of this was that public opinion turned against the Confederates who still benefited from slavery activities. However, this does not mean that slavery in Britain received a total condemnation. There existed a group of people who wanted to the trade to continue and thus did everything in their capacity to facilitate the Confederate's cause to win the battle.
Britain’s Indifference
According to many historians, Britain showed mixed perceptions with regards to their support of the two warring sides during the Civil War. At the start of the war, it would have been difficult to conclude that Britain was pro-North or pro-South. They showed an immense indifference characterized by their interests and ideologies. In the years leading up to secession, the primary aim of the Southern States was to preserve slavery. However, this tended to go against the anti-slavery sentiments held but a majority of the British people. Also, the Union showed lack of interest and enthusiasm towards the emancipation, a factor that made many British people doubt their commitment towards abolition. Public opinion also started forming against the Northern States because they had put protectionist trade policies against the British goods. As such, many viewed the North as an enemy of Britain. Therefore, this was a significant boost towards the south because many British commentators found it difficult to support the Union. Another majority in Britain also resented the approach taken by the South especially in supporting slavery. As such, the indifference led to each quarter supporting the side that would best serve its interests. Through the lenses of politics, British government officials at that time privately supported the Confederacy and wanted it to win the war. Various sources have shown that the then Prime Minister Lord Palmerston and his foreign minister supported the Confederacy mainly because played a critical role in its economic well-being.
Direct Involvement in the War
The neutrality policy announced by the queen meant that Britain as a nation would not engage in the war whatsoever. However, research has shown that many British individuals served in the armies of the Confederacy and the Union. Despite the fact that they were not large in number, they were noticeable due to their previous commitments in the military service. For instance, British nationals that served in the Union Army won a total of 67 Congressional Medals of Honor in the course of the American Civil War. Many other British that fought for the Confederacy were however undocumented. It is asserted that many of the senior officials who fought in the War had British origins. For example, General Patrick Cleburne who served in the Confederate Army had his roots from Ireland. 6 Cleburne commanded a section of the Army of Tennessee. Important to note is that he had previously served in the British Army where he achieved various honors with the highest being the rank of a corporal. Therefore, this shows that despite Britain’s lack of involvement as a nation in the war, its influence could be felt directly through the army men who decided to take sides in the Civil War. Historians have further intimated that the armies of the American Civil War were mainly English speaking men. Great Britain is said to have contributed a whopping 45,000 participants in the war. Also, among the people who lost their lives in the war, Britons formed a considerable number.
The Cotton and the Bond Factor
The Confederacy states produced cotton that served as the chief raw materials in many cotton mills across Europe, Britain being a major factor. In full realization of this, the Confederate States decided to blackmail the English people to accept their independence by withholding further supply of cotton. At the start of the Civil War, the cotton is said to have supported the livelihoods of one in every five Britons in one way or the other. 7 As such, the cotton embargo would have impacted the financial status of Britain. Because of the economic prospects the war had on Britain, they had no option but to support the South that had their economic interest at heart. Therefore, in this regard, Britain exported Cannons, Guns, rifles, bullets, and uniforms, especially to the Confederates. The second major way that explains involvement in the war is via the bonds. Britain had heavily invested in the bonds and was the highest owner at that particular time. Due to the availability of the bonds, both the South and the North needed to engage in their sale to raise the money necessary to facilitate the war. In this perspective, Britain could possibly be viewed as catalysts in the war.
In conclusion, the involvement of Great Britain in the war cannot be overemphasized. However, it would be difficult to conclusively assert that they supported one side as the way progressed due to their indifference. What remains apparent is that they did not adhere to the neutrality proclamation made by their government. Most historians have however agreed that the support towards the Confederate States was more acceptable to the British people because it would safeguard their economic interests. Since Britain provided funds, direct support through military, weapons and materials, and also grounds for operations such as Liverpool, the war prolonged because each side had to settle down to formulate better tactics to attack the other. Britain’s involvement in the Civil War would further lead to weakened diplomatic ties that affected the rather suspicious relationship that the two nations enjoyed.
Annotated Bibliography
Foreman, Amanda. A world on fire: Britain's crucial role in the American Civil War . Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2012.
The book candidly explains the story of the American Civil War and the role that Britain including its citizens played in the war. One of the outstanding contributions of the author in regards to painting the picture of British involvement in the epic war was to illustrate how the British citizens volunteered to serve on both sides of the conflict. Some of the ways in which the citizens served in the war included soldiers, nurses, sailors, blockade runners, infantrymen, and spies amongst others. The author further dwells on the various characters including soldiers and ordinary citizens and how they devoted their lives through sacrifice in supporting either the Confederacy or the Union. The book further explores beliefs and decisions regarding slavery and economy that played a significant role in informing Britain's decision to engage in the wrangle.
Fowler, William M. Under Two Flags: The American Navy in the Civil War . Naval Institute Press, 2013.
The author vividly describes how the Confederates and the Union prepared their armies in readiness for the war. Whereas it acknowledges that Union had a stable military base, it discusses that the Confederates had to rely on Britain, more precisely Liverpool for funds and ships that would ready it for the war. The author goes ahead to discuss various materials, men, and officers that both sides accumulated in a bid to outdo the other in the battle. The book further gives insights into how Liverpool remained a significant location for the Confederates who from the beginning were bound to fail due to their innate frailties.
Victoria, Queen. The Letters of Queen Victoria . Vol. 3. Cambridge University Press, 2014.
The book contains primary sources of some of the letters of Queen Victoria that include some of her essential communications at her time as the leader of Britain. Among the letters is that one dated on May 13 th 1861which emphasized on Britain’s intentions to remain a neutral party in the wake of the American Civil War. In the letter, she states that the official position of Britain was to remain non-partisan and further asks all her citizens in the US to practice the same.
Slabaugh, Arlie R., and George S. Cuhaj. Confederate States Paper Money: Civil War Currency from the South . Krause Publications, 2012.
The author describes how the economy of the Confederate states and how they wanted to use this as a leverage to coerce Britain to recognize their independence and support them in the course of the Civil War. The South was mostly a cotton economy and was important especially to the economy of Britain who heavily relied on their cotton as raw materials for the cotton mills. The source further goes on to explain how the British people resented in helping the Confederate states because they had not implemented the abolition policies regarding slavery. The author, therefore, presents a dilemma for Britain because, on the one hand, it depended heavily on the South, but at the same time, wanted them to implement the abolition policy which seemingly they were not ready to do.
Berwanger, Eugene. The British Foreign Service and the American Civil War . University Press of Kentucky, 2015.
The author here mainly discusses how Britain was hell-bent to influence the war because of vested interests. Some of the interests that Britain had in the war included its economic progress through cotton and selling of the bonds and to ensure that slavery was abolished altogether. The author further discusses how the neutrality was abandoned due to the vested interest mentioned. The foreign services highlighted included the shipping industry located in the ports of Liverpool that sold ships and other materials such as guns and ammunition to the Confederacy.
Dew, Charles B. Apostles of Disunion: Southern secession commissioners and the causes of the Civil War . University of Virginia Press, 2017.
The source mainly discusses the decision of the South to secede and how differed principles on slavery fueled the civil war. The authors mostly dwell on the ideological differences that culminated in the battle that had many casualties and which left a mark in the history of the United States. The author further discusses the role of Abraham Lincoln as the President of America and his role in ensuring that the Confederacy did not form a potential coalition with Britain because this would be tantamount to foreign interference.
1 Fowler, William M. Under Two Flags: The American Navy in the Civil War . Naval Institute Press, 2013.
2 Dew, Charles B. Apostles of Disunion: Southern secession commissioners and the causes of the Civil War . University of Virginia Press, 2017.
3 Victoria, Queen. The Letters of Queen Victoria . Vol. 3. Cambridge University Press, 2014.
4 Foreman, Amanda. A world on fire: Britain's crucial role in the American Civil War . Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2012.
5 Berwanger, Eugene. The British Foreign Service and the American Civil War . University Press of Kentucky, 2015.
6 Foreman, Amanda. A world on fire: Britain's crucial role in the American Civil War . Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2012.
7 Slabaugh, Arlie R., and George S. Cuhaj. Confederate States Paper Money: Civil War Currency from the South . Krause Publications, 2012.
