Blue and Gray Diplomacy: A History of Union and Confederate Foreign Relations (The Littlefield History of the Civil War Era)

In this examination of Union and Confederate foreign relations during the Civil War from both European and American perspectives, Howard Jones demonstrates that the consequences of the conflict between North and South reached far beyond American soil. Jones explores a number of themes, including the international economic and political dimensions of the war, the North's attempts to block the South from winning foreign recognition as a nation, Napoleon III's meddling in the war and his attempt to restore French power in the New World, and the inability of Europeans to understand the interrelated nature of slavery and union, resulting in their tendency to interpret the war as a senseless struggle between a South too large and populous to have its independence denied and a North too obstinate to give up on the preservation of the Union. Most of all, Jones explores the horrible nature of a war that attracted outside involvement as much as it repelled it. Written in a narrative style that relates the story as its participants saw it play out around them, Blue and Gray Diplomacy depicts the complex set of problems faced by policy makers from Richmond and Washington to London, Paris, and St. Petersburg. In This Examination Of Union And Confederate Foreign Relations During The Civil War From Both European And American Perspectives, Howard Jones Demonstrates That Consequences Of The Conflict Between North And South Reached Far Beyond American Soil. Jones Explores A Number Of Themes, Including International Economic And Political Dimensions Of The War, The North's Attempts To Block The South From Winning Foreign Recognition As A Nation, Napoleon Iii's Meddling In The War And His Attempt To Restore French Power In The New World, And Inability Of Europeans To Understand The Interrelated Nature Of Slavery And Union, Resulting In Their Tendency To Interpret The War As A Senseless Struggle Between A South Too Large And Populous To Have Its Independence Denied And A North Too Obstinate To Give Up On The Preservation Of The Union. Jones Explores Horrible Nature Of A War That Attracted Outside Involvement As Much As It Repelled It--publisher's Description. Prologue -- Republic In Peril -- British Neutrality On Trial -- The Trent And Confederate Independence -- Road To Recognition -- Union And Confederacy At Bay -- The Paradox Of Intervention -- Antietam And Emancipation -- Union-confederate Crisis Over Intervention -- Requiem For Napoleon--and Intervention -- Epilogue. Howard Jones. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In this examination of Union and Confederate foreign relations during the Civil War from both European and American perspectives, Howard Jones demonstrates that the consequences of the conflict between North and South reached far beyond American soil. Jones explores a number of themes, including the international economic and political dimensions of the war, the North's attempts to block the South from winning foreign recognition as a nation, Napoleon III's meddling in the war and his attempt to restore French power in the New World, and the inability of Europeans to understand the integrated nature of slavery and union, resulting in their tendency to interpret the war as a senseless struggle between a South too large and populous to have its independence denied and a North too obstinate to give up on the preservation of the Union. Most of all, Jones explores the horrible nature of a war that attracted outside involvement as much as it repelled it. Written in a narrative style that relates the story as its participants saw it play out around them, Blue and Gray Diplomacy depicts the complex set of problems faced by policy makers from Richmond and Washington to London, Paris, and St. Petersburg. In an examination of Union and Confederate foreign relations during the Civil War from both European and American perspectives, Jones explores a number of themes, including the international economic and political dimensions of the war, the North's attempts to block the South from winning foreign recognition as a nation, Napoleon III's meddling in the war and his attempt to restore French power in the New World, and the inability of Europeans to understand the interrelated nature of slavery and union Prologue Republic in peril British neutrality on trial The Trent and Confederate independence Road to recognition Union and Confederacy at bay The paradox of intervention Antietam and emancipation Union-Confederate crisis over intervention Requiem for Napoleon and intervention Epilogue. Examines Union and Confederate foreign relations during the Civil War from both European and American perspectives. This book demonstrates that the consequences of the conflict between North and South reached far beyond American soil.