King cotton theory, also known as king cotton delusion is the philosophy that the Confederacy could gain influence in foreign countries by threatening to cut off the flow of cotton from the south to the rest of the world. The Confederacy used this tactic to coerce Europe into joining them in arms against the Union and to destroy the northern industry. Although they were never able to bring down the common market and get them to fight with the ‘Johnny Rebs’, from 1861 to 1862 they created tie and set the stage for Confederate foreign policy for their three last years.
Until secession the Confederacy was the sole major cotton supplier for their neighbors in the east. For example, in 1799 the south was hardly exporting any cotton to Europe, but …show more content…
This was negative because the South was on the brink of revolution and England anticipated federal blockades on both sides and/or the destruction of southern farmland. Any of these interruptions of the cotton flow would lead to the utter destruction of England’s economy. Therefore they sent commissioners to India, the former cotton giant to see if they could work out deals that would offer as much cotton for the same if not lower prices than the South that have yet maintain the same quality. After hundreds of commissioners scattered across India searched for bulk, affordable, quality cotton the production only increased by twenty percent from 1800 to 1860 (only about ten million pounds more) even though demand had increased by one thousand percent. Indian cotton was of lesser quality than confederate cotton in every field except for color. The South also was more able to transport cotton to Europe because of its superior transportation. The search for a prosperous source of cotton in India to replace southern cotton had failed. Now England had to watch helplessly as their train was about to derail and there brake wouldn’t work. (3-5,
Until secession the Confederacy was the sole major cotton supplier for their neighbors in the east. For example, in 1799 the south was hardly exporting any cotton to Europe, but …show more content…
This was negative because the South was on the brink of revolution and England anticipated federal blockades on both sides and/or the destruction of southern farmland. Any of these interruptions of the cotton flow would lead to the utter destruction of England’s economy. Therefore they sent commissioners to India, the former cotton giant to see if they could work out deals that would offer as much cotton for the same if not lower prices than the South that have yet maintain the same quality. After hundreds of commissioners scattered across India searched for bulk, affordable, quality cotton the production only increased by twenty percent from 1800 to 1860 (only about ten million pounds more) even though demand had increased by one thousand percent. Indian cotton was of lesser quality than confederate cotton in every field except for color. The South also was more able to transport cotton to Europe because of its superior transportation. The search for a prosperous source of cotton in India to replace southern cotton had failed. Now England had to watch helplessly as their train was about to derail and there brake wouldn’t work. (3-5,