Although international law stated that a blockade must be “physically effective” to be legally binding on neutral powers, the definition was ambiguous. From before the War of 1812, the United States had insisted upon a strict definition in order to maintain trading rights as a neutral. Now, however, the United States was the belligerent and Britain the predominant neutral power. By officially respecting the Union blockade, even if it was not fully “physically effective,” Britain maintained a consistent position on belligerent rights. The U.S. reversal of its traditional position stressing neutral rights set the precedent that it would be obligated to respect the British argument in future naval issues.
In 1861, the U.S.S. San Jacinto seized two Confederate representatives who were aboard British steamer, Trent, after they had sailed from Havana. This quickly morphed into a diplomatic crisis between the US and Britain. Cooler heads prevailed and Lincoln ordered that the two representatives be allowed to proceed to Britain. The British agreed to this course and deescalated the crisis. Fortunately for the United States, the seizure of the Conferedate emissaries delayed the Confederacy's discussions with Britain. During the delay, the war turned in favor of the North as it won victories in on both the Atlantic and in the West. This further delayed Britain from making any decisions.<ref>McPherson, Battle Hymn of the Reppublic, p. 389-91.</ref>
Fortunately ====1862 Military gains by the Confederacy spurred discussions of recognizing the Confederacy====In 1862, the Confederacy made several important military gains that made it more likely that they could gain recognition from Britain and Louis Napoleon's French government. These victories were accompanied by a charm offensive by the Alabamian Henry Hozte. Hotze moved easily with the British upper class and was an effective advocate for the United StatesConfederacy. The US blockade of the South finally caused a cotton shortage with British textile mills and hurt industrial areas in the country. Both popular and political opinion of the Civil War was split in the country. B Despite these gains, Lord Palmerston, Prime Minister (1859-1865), would only recognize Southern independence if they won the seizure of war. He had little interest in undermining Britain's fragile relationship with the Conferedate emissaries delayed United States to prop up the Confederacy. Louis Napoleon was not nearly as careful as Palmerston because he wanted to expand France's empire into Mexico. The Confederacy supported Napoleon's discussions with Britainbut they wanted diplomatic recognition and naval support from France. Europe's other powers, Austria and Russia, were split on who to support and this prevent ed Europe from proposing a summit or armistice to end the war. During <ref>McPherson, The Battle Hymn of the delayRepublic, p. 553-556.</ref> ====Antietam and the Emancipation Proclamation altered the diplomatic equation====The bloody victory of the Union forces at Antietam gave Lincoln an opening to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. The victory at Antietam demonstrated that the South was not on the precipice of victory. It became clear that the war turned would continue that the Union and Lincoln had little interest in favor anything except a Confederate surrender. The Emancipation Proclamation not only freed the slaves in Confederate territory, but it also authorized the enlistment of black soldiers and made the civil war. Finally, it subtly transformed the Civil War from a war about union to conflict about freedom and slavery. Any momentum the South had made was undermined by Antietam and Lincoln's Proclamation. ====Conclusion====While the Antietam and the Emancipation Proclamation did not end the North as Confederacy's effort to receive diplomatic recognition from the European powers, it severely undermined it won victories . The Emancipation Proclamation undermined support for the South throughout Europe because of the continued ownership of slaves. By 1864, the Confederacy was so desperate to win diplomatic recognition that Jefferson Davis authorized a Southern delegation led Duncan F. Kenner to offer emancipation in exchange for diplomatic recognition, but ultimately the South's failure to win on both the Atlantic and battlefield doomed their efforts.<ref>McPherson, Battle Hymn of the Republic, p.837-38</ref> ====References====<references/> * Republished in part from [https://history.state.gov/| Office of the WestHistorian, United States Department of State]* Article: [https://history.state.gov/milestones/1861-1865/confederacy | Preventing Diplomatic Recognition of the Confederacy, 1861–1865]
====Conclusion====
