Eastern Iowa Community College
European Involvement in the Civil War
Jillisa Halverson
History 151
Instructor: Dan Anderson
December 5, 2015
The American Civil War represents a significant period in United States history. In this essay we will explore foreign involvement in the Civil War. We will specifically look at the roles of France and Great Britain played and how they used military positioning in Canada and off the US coast to affect the war. Finally, we will look at which foreign entities backed both the North and South and to what extent their backing of each domestic side was in effect of proxy war if at all.
The Civil War had marked a critical time of frustrations and tensions in 1860-1861
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The war caused a lot of hardships for the Southern citizens. The American Civil War had international implications. Great Britain and France were two major world forces that had to make the decision on how to handle the news of the conflict between the North and the South. Many look at the American Civil War as a battle that took place between the North and the South but it was also an international conflict. The United States trade economy was successfully growing in 1860 and had built a strong business relationship with Europe. Europe watched the events of the Civil War earnestly. They had a vested interest in the dealings between the North and the South and felt it best if they stayed on top of the current happenings between the two and how these dealings were or were not going to benefit them.
Britain and the United States had a destructive relationship after Britain was defeated by the US in the Wars of Independence. In 1812, United States tried to take over Canada and failed. Britain did not like the invasion of the US and in 1814 Britain attacked and burned the Capitol in Washington. The states in the North of the United States didn’t like the idea of a possible takeover by Britain. The Northern states required high import fees and that hit Britain’s export trading hard. The United States didn’t approve of Britain’s Free Trade tactics and many believed Britain’s influence over the South was an attempt to setup a British
The War of 1812, The US saw Great Britain as a major problem because of their definition of "contraband" and the impressment of American sailors into the British Navy. And around this time the "warhawks" are elected to the House of Representatives. They wanted war because the British were supplying the Indian with guns and ammunition and encouraging Indian trouble.
In order to understand how the relationship between Britain and the American Colonies became so strained, we must first examine the nature of Britain’s imperial authority. Economic relations between the two entities were
The Civil War was caused by many several pressures, principles, and prejudices, fueled by sectional differences, and was finally set into motion by a most unlikely set of political events. From economic differences to political differences all the way up to cultural differences, the North and the South opposed each other. These tensions were further increased after the western expansion of the United States. By the early 1850’s a civil war was known to be likely coming soon.
From the beginning of the war, the Confederacy placed great hope in being recognized and supported by Great Britain and France. European intervention in the conflict remained a strong possibility, but when it did occur, it was not in a way anticipated by either the Confederacy or the Union.
The civil war is an important event in the history of the United States. It began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate General opened fire on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, and lasted until May 26,1865, when the last Confederate army surrendered . All aspects of the war have been a topic of concern to the academic community, especially in the United States. In my opinion, the civil war not only important for American, but also important for the world. Here I will show you the main causes of the Civil War.
The American colonist and the British started out having a very civil relationship. They provided each other with resources. During the French and Indian war the colonists were on the British side and helped them fight. Unfortunately, after the war the British started to change their ways and started to come up with new stricter rules. The British started to tax the colonist on different kinds of items, which was not fair to the colonists. They were controlling the colonist with everything they did. The colonists wanted them to back off a little but the British weren't budging. They thought they could tell the colonists what to do but the colonists were not going to be treated that way, so they took matters in their own hands. The colonists
The War of 1812 is not easily remembered to the United States and the British. The people that were mostly affected were the Canadians and the Indians. To them, the War of 1812 was a symbol of freedom or a symbol of no freedom. The United States was a new, developing nation after the American Revolution.
Becoming a new country the US began trading with other counties. Two being France and Great Britain. During this time, Napoleon took power in France with the domination of Europe in mind. At the time the US was still trading with France, but Great Britain didn’t want the US to give France an upper hand, therefore the Great Britain
To begin my statement, during the civil war between the colonies and the Americans, the Americans try to take over British North America. Due to the Americans belief which was the Manifest Destiny. The Manifest Destiny is when the Americans own, take over, or have control over British North America. The British North America were scared and concern due to the Americans invasion. Before the war or during the time of the war, the colonies who were at risk were Canada East and West, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick.
During the 1800s, Great Britain was facing a crisis as there was a war with France looming over them. Along with this crisis, Great Britain was facing conflicts with the United States. Great Britain was in a difficult situation as war broke out against France. At the same time, the United States was looking for a "Second Independence" as they were trying to finally prove their independence from The British Empire. Great Britain faced more serious matters with France as they were trying to stay free of French domination. America tried to cripple Great Britain in their war against France by imposing embargos on the nation, but was unsuccessful as Great Britain had all the sources they needed to fight France. America realized they were hurting themselves and declared war on Great Britain June 18,
British has influenced the structure of the United States dramatically. Even from the simple preference for coffee over tea to having a President over a Monarch. The United States and Britain share a love-hate relationship that has extended over the years and has been strengthened by the common enemies and alliance. However, when America set out on the journey to becoming a nation of their own they decided that Great Britain was no role model. America refused to follow the monarchy Britain established and their nation must be by the people for the people. America had multiple ideas of how their nation should be, but their fear consumed them. The stumbled but eventually produced the Constitution that demonstrated all the hate from British experience and their attempt to not reproduce it.
After the first battle of the Civil War the Upper states in the South also seceded. Abraham Lincoln was able to persuade Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri to stay in the Union. By doing this Lincoln gained access to the river systems in Kentucky and Missouri that led into the heart of the South. This control effected the 1862 invasions of the south, which provided the North with most of its early military successes. The Civil War was total trench warfare. Technology was the main event that influenced total trench warfare. Technology led to ideas such as strategy, weapons, and transportation. It wasn't until 1865 the Civil War ended with the surrender of the South's army. The Civil War was an event that impacted the United States greatly economically, politically and socially. This impact called for great reconstruction after the Civil War.
In 1861, the American Civil War commenced after many years of tension building between the Northern and Southern states. The main reason of the tension was said to be the debate of slavery between the North and South, and although some documents support this claim, it is false. The war had been brewing since 1607, before slavery was even introduced to the colonies that would become the United States of America. The debate of slavery did play a major part in the civil war; however it did so in supporting the true cause of the civil war. The main cause of the American Civil War was not the debate of slavery, but rather Europe’s role in the American economy.
In the Civil War the North had many advantages over the South. The South was outnumbered, out supplied, and pushed into a corner using military tactics. Many things changed because of the Civil War. The military tactics used by the North changed how war was fought from then on. Many changes were made politically; some were only temporary, while others were permanent. After the war was over, the country was reunited and the image of the soul and duty of our country redefined.
Perhaps the greatest war in American History, the Civil War is unique because of the fact that it was the only war fought on American soil. The American Civil War’s origins were brought forth by complex issues dealing with slavery, expansionism, sectionalism, and political party politics. However the Civil War was mainly devised because of slavery issues and later intensified by tariff issues as well. During this time the United States was forced to confront the issue of whether new areas of settlement were going to be pro-slave states or no slave holding states. After