The Diplomacy of the Civil War

The Union Blockade (May 1861) and the British Neutrality

Proclamation of Neutrality

Recognition of Southern belligerency.

Failure of "King Cotton Diplomacy"

The Trent Affair (Nove 1861)

John Slidell and James Mason

Captain Charles Wilkes

William Seward

Charles Francis Adams

Aftermath of the Civil War

The Alabama Claims and the Treaty of Washington (1871)

Napoleon III and Mexico

This crisis was set off by the declaration of bankruptcy by the Mexican government. They owed large debts to the US and many European nations. They agreed to a tripartite military intervention in Mexico for the collection of debts.

The British and Spanish made a deal with the Mexican government and left. Napoleon III of France, however, wanted to recapture Mexico and with it the French Empire.

Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian (1863)

Chosen to rule Mexico by Napoleon III, Ferdinand was an Austrian and an idealist, not a dictator. He was led to beleive that the Mexicans wanted his rule. The French agreed to provide military protection to Ferdinand's Mexican government until 1867. In return, Mexico would cover all military costs and pay all Mexican debts to France.

Ferdinand planned on the creation of a constitutional Monarchy in Mexico and thought he had the support of the people. He was Napoleon III's puppet, and very ill-prepared for the reality of ruling Mexico. The old Mexican government had re-established itself in the south and was engaging in civil war against Ferdinands government. He also had to deal with a serious financial crisis (financing a war, covering the costs of the French military expedition, and repaying Mexico's debts).

The US did nothing more during this period than post a mild protest. It could not afford to offend the French during the Civil War. It did, however, refuse to recognize Ferdinand's government. Both of these policies were for the same reason: French military aid or a French-backed government in Mexico could only support the southern rebels in the US.

When the US civil war ended, it had 900,000 veteran military men and generals. It started sending strong protests to France.

French Withdrawal (1866)

The French unilaterally withdrew all troops. Ferdinand, thinking he had the support of the Mexican people, remained behind. He was captured and executed for his Naivte.

The US never mentioned Monroe's Doctrine in these activities, but all the principles were there. This was the first enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine by the US.

The Purchase of Alaska (Seward's Folly)

In 1856, the Russians offered to sell Alaska to the US. The Russian-American fur trading company's fortunes had declined when they wiped out the local fur supplies. The Russians no longer had any need for Alaska. It was a valueless land and a monetary drain on their resources.

In 1860 the US offered Russia $5 million for the sell of Alaska. But the actual purchase did not take place until after the Civil War.

The purchase of alaska was referred to as Seward's Folly. No-one in the US at the time recognized the significance of Alaska, thinking it was worthless. Seward wanted Alaska, seeing it as a fulfillment of American Manifest Destiny. He wanted an American Naval base in the northern pacific to defend American whaling vessels.

Baron Edouard de Stoeckl, Russian Foreign Minister to the US, negotiated the sell of Alaska with Seward. The negotiations took place at a private party at Seward's home and was made at 4 AM.

The purchase was made for $7.2 million, or about 2¢ per acre.

By March, 1867, the treaty was signed and ratified. Appropriation of funds was blocked by the House of Representatives for over a year. Andrew Johnson was being impeached and the House of Representatives was not in any mood to pass a Bill that would benefit President Johnson and his government.

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