American History

The Trent Affair was an international diplomatic row during the American Civil War that would have sparked a conflict between the United States and the Great Britain. This was after the Union intercepted a British ship and seized two southern envoys on their way to Britain and France to push for recognition of the seceded Southern states. Without laying credence on the mission of the two envoys, Britain decried the Unions violation of the international laws. The conflict was averted by the eventual release of the two envoys. In the end, the Trent Affair proved to be advantageous to the Union as it strengthened the ties with Britain while diminishing the Confederates hopes for an international recognition.

The background to the Trent Affair can be traced to a decision by the Confederates President Jefferson Davis to send James Mason and John Sidell to Britain and France respectively to press for the Souths case. The South was counting on the long-term economic relations that it had with Europe as the key consumers of its cotton to act to the Confederates advantage and prompt Europes recognition of the Southern states as autonomous from the Union. As historians have concluded, the general assumption held by Davis was that cotton was king and would play a major role in securing Europes support more than any role played by the Confederates diplomats. The Union was well aware of the Souths intentions and recognized the dangers that such a possibility posed to the stability of the Union.

A look at the period prior to the Civil War indicates a stint of warm relations between America and Great Britain. The earlier rows over the Oregon territory and the Canadian border disagreement had been resolved amicably. However, despite the warm relations, it remained unclear where Britain stood in face of the raging Civil War. Great Britain was by then the most powerful nation on earth with unmatched naval superiority. While there were no doubts that it would act in its own national interest, there was no telling where those national interests lay whether in a united America or in the fragmented states.
 
The seizing of the two southern diplomats was not well received in Britain. There occurred wide outrage both in the public and in the corridors of power. They regarded Captain Charles Wilkes of the U.S.S. San Jacinto action to blockade the ship and arrest the two confederate diplomats as an act of great national dishonor. In response, the British government, led by then prime minister, Lord Palmerston, demanded an immediate release of the arrested diplomats accompanied by a public apology. To the contrary, the response to Captain Wilkes exploits in the northern states can only be described as exhilarating. The war had taken rough turns and the Union had ceded some grounds to the Confederates that year. News of Captain Wilkes actions, though viewed skeptically by some leaders doubting the wisdom behind the move, was jubilantly received with him receiving a heros welcome and being honored by the Congress. The Unions response to the crisis hence had to strike a compromise between appeasing the domestic enthusiasm towards Wilkess actions and aptly responding to Britains demands in a way the Union would not be seen as kowtowing to the British. It has to be observed that, the fact that Captain Wilkes acted against the international laws did not escape the American government. Indeed this was an issue that presented a major dilemma to Abraham Lincoln and it took a carefully constructed response to alleviate the situation. Faced with a possibility of a British wrath, which would have dealt a devastating blow to the union, Lincoln denounced Captain Wilkes action maintaining he had acted on his own in the capture of Messrs. Mason and Slidell on board a British vessel, Captain Wilkes having acted without any instructions from the government, the subject is therefore free from the embarrassment which might have resulted if the act had been especially directed by us. With such a response then, Lincoln avoided the prospect of issuing an apology or succumbing to the temptations to further aggravate the situation as the public urged.

The major impact of the Trent Affair was that it ended up cementing the diplomatic ties between Britain and the United States. As the crises unfolded, the South was clearly hoping for a turn of events that would be favorable to its cause and debilitating to the Europes ties with the Union. Many Confederate leaders were urging for a severer action more than an apology and compensation. This however was never to be. Probably recognizing the importance of the stability of the union to its national interest or in recognition of its military might, Great Britain affirmed its neutrality. The diplomatic requests placed by the two Confederate diplomats after their release failed to amass the necessary support. Britain and France failed to offer their commitments recognizing the Confederates secession. The Trent Affair then, contrary to the initial indicators that it would blow out of proportion, was amicably resolved and would mark the beginning to stronger diplomatic ties between America and Britain.