Bra's Role In The Civil War

The relationship between the two nations, United States and Great Britain, grew far apart during the Civil War. British North America (BNA) was also involved in this war but as a colony for Great Britain, it did not have much decision in the war. As BNA was a colony, it followed the actions of Great Britain. The relationship between the two nations heavily influenced a change in the British colony north of the 49th parallel. Conflicting relations between the Unites States and GB during the Civil War were led by Great Britain’s declaration of Neutrality its contribution to the Confederacy lead to BNA confederation
The steps that Great Britain had taken towards the war reflected acknowledgement of the Confederacy even though announced they did not. The trade Great Britain did with the Confederacy influenced the building of Commerce Raiders. An example was, “the Alabama, a Confederate warship that was built in a British shipyard and that preyed with deadly success on Union merchant vessels.” (T&R 37) The Union made blockades block the Confederacy, but it issued problems with neutrality on the high seas. When Captain Wilkes heard that two Confederate were making their way to Great Britain aboard the ship Trent, he stopped it and captured the two Confederates, James Mason and John Slidell. The Trent affair began and once it slipped into the ears of the British, hell broke loose. At this time, “Britain prepared immediately for war with the United States.” (T&R 37) President Lincoln and Secretary of state Seward pleaded with Great Britain to not take action. They were ready to settle anything to avoid war with Britain. England still was livid in its turmoil, sent troops to BNA garrison to be prepared. With the actions the President and Seward had taken cooler heads had prevailed and war had been averted. BNA also played …show more content…
The St. Albany Raid struck fury in the eyes of the Americans as BNA was neutral in the war. The evidence behind the outcome of this raid showed that BNA was harboring Confederate sympathizers. The action BNA and Great Britain had taken in keeping the fugitives in Canada and trialing them there irritated the US. The outcome of the trial ignited a force of aggression towards BNA and Great Britain. Seward would not take this type of behavior from BNA and suspended the Rush-Bagot Treat, militarizing the Great Lakes to protect the union from further destruction of Confederate sympathizers. He also abrogated the Reciprocity Act to show that BNA made a terrible mistake in aiding the Confederacy. In their belief, “American leaders…made plain that they thought that British complicity on the wrong side in the war between the States justified additional …show more content…
The motherland, Great Britain, for years, was pushing for a union of the BNA colony to take care of their internal affairs. The Queen’s representative stated, “let it be thoroughly understood that this question of Confederation is one in which the Home Government is quite in earnest and considers that its wishes ought to have and will have great weight with the provinces.” Another push for Confederation was that British taxpayers were paying for the military defense in BNA and was becoming a horrible burden on them. It was during the Fenian Raids that Great Britain used as an example for BNA to protect itself from its neighbor to the