Introduction

Question 1

background

Answer 1

After the Confederacy was formed following the secession of several Southern states, including South Carolina and Texas, the Confederacy immediately sought foreign recognition. Their foregin policy had two main aims; to convince Britain and France to intervene and break the Union blockade, and to gain international recognition. However, this wasn’t going to be an easy feat as the main aim of Northern foregin policy was to prevent both foregin recognition of the Confederacy and international intervention in the war. Inevitably, the Confederacy never managed to get the forgein recognition they sought for, due to a number of reasons.

Question 2

factors

Answer 2

Some historians such as James McPherson argue that Northern diplomatic skills were critical in ensuring European neutrality, others such as Alan Farmer argue that Union military success was critical in ensuring European neutrality, others such as Frank Owsley argue that it was economic factors, finally.

Question 3

line of argument

Answer 3

This essay will argue that Northern Diplomacy was infact the most important reason for ensuring European neutrality because they managed to prevent foregin recognition of the Confederacy.