Did Lincoln Administration Prevent European Intervention

The question of this investigation is: “To what extent did the Lincoln Administration prevent European intervention during the Civil War?” The American Civil War is known as one of the most devastating wars in American history; however, it is also the time that held one of the most breathtaking feats that could have altered the course of the war: Abraham Lincoln and his policy makers avoiding European intervention in the Civil War, which would have led to a Southern victory. Trade has always been established between the U.S. and European nations with their dependence on cotton; however, this investigation will further enhance how Lincoln and his team were able to influence European nations to not give recognition to the Confederacy throughout …show more content…
The purpose of the source was to focus on five distinct events that help to define Lincoln’s approach to foreign affairs, as well as how his administration were able to successfully prevent European intervention. Lincoln is not primarily viewed as a great foreign policy maker, due to him not having any personal relations in Europe. Furthermore, it is important to this investigation because it emphasizes the strategies used during the growing information age and gives clear documented accounts to European responses to these events. Peraino is well educated in foreign policy, which values his ability to understand and enhance Lincoln’s tactics and the effects it had on the European working-class. However, a possible limitation of the source is that he is a news journalist, which credits him to possibly manipulate specific instances to make one side seem more upholding than another. Another limitation is that there is no academic information regarding his background besides him graduating college and being a member of the Council of Foreign Relations. This limits his personal education towards being a credited historian, by using other sources and historians in his …show more content…
However, the Union suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Bull Run, causing Lincoln to feel a sense of “humility” and “embarrassment” towards European nations (Peraino, 2013). Secretary of State, Henry Seward, knew that something needed to be done to enforce international trade, resulting in the establishment of the Anaconda Plan. Lincoln justified this action by saying it was a ‘”life and limb’” that must be protected. Furthermore, Lincoln signed a bill that “actively pushed for innovations in the navy… develop a fleet on ironclads” (Peraino, 2013). The blockade left three quarters of the British and French workers unemployed and textile mills were in crisis (Jones, 2010). Correspondingly, the infamous Trent Crisis sparked outrage in Britain by claiming violation of international law and demanding the release of the commissioners and ordered troops to Canada to prepare for a potential Anglo-American conflict. In order to avoid conflict, Lincoln told Seward to send an apology to the British officials for the incident and the diplomats were release, bringing the Trent Affair to a close (Burlingame, 2017). However, this sparked interest to the French leader, Napoleon, towards Mexico. Lincoln, realizing the danger, placed his forces at the Rio Grande as a warning to Napoleon. Luckily, he got a break, when Russian ships came to the coast of the Atlantic. This was