<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRGca8Lgwag</youtube>
[File:Trent_Affair.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|The USS San Jacinto and HMS Trent - Two Confederate couriers seized by the United States.]]__NOTOC__
On November 8, 1861, Charles Wilkes, a U.S. Navy Officer, captured two Confederate envoys aboard the British mail ship, the Trent. Great Britain accused the United States of violating British neutrality, and the incident created a diplomatic crisis between the United States and Great Britain during the Civil War.
====Confederate Envoysby US aboard British Ship====Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, had dispatched these envoys—James Mason, former Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and John Slidell, a prominent New Orleans lawyer—to secure British and French recognition of the Confederate States as a sovereign nation. Great Britain and France had maintained their diplomatic relations with the United States following the outbreak of the Civil War outbreak and had recognized the Confederacy as a belligerent power, but not a sovereign government, in early 1861. Davis sought to change this by negotiating with these nations for full diplomatic recognition. Official diplomatic recognition by Britain and France would not only lend credibility to the Confederacy’s bid for independence but . Still, it would also pave the way for lucrative trade deals between the Confederate States and the European powers. Davis hoped that recent Confederate victories against Union troops would favorably dispose British and French officials to receive his envoys. In October 1861, Mason and Slidell slipped through the U.S. naval blockade and left Charleston, South Carolina, for Cuba, where they took passage for England on the Trent. U.S. Captain Wilkes intercepted the Trent on November 8, 1861, and, without permission from Washington, ordered his lieutenant to board and search the ship. The U.S. boarding party took Mason, Slidell, and their secretaries as prisoners but allowed the Trent to depart for England.
In October 1861====Britain Orders Troops to Canada in Response====[[File:John_Slidell_LA_1859.jpg|left|thumbnail|300px|John Slidell, Mason and Slidell slipped through 1859]]The initial reaction on both sides of the UAtlantic was strong.S. naval blockade and left CharlestonThe United States, South Carolina for Cubastill smarting from the defeat at Bull Run during the summer, where they took passage for England on publicly celebrated this turn of events as a victory against the Trent. U.SConfederacy and a blow to Confederate diplomacy. Captain Wilkes intercepted On the Trent on November 8other hand, 1861 the British strongly protested Wilkes’s action as illegal and a violation of their neutrality anddemanded the release of the captive Confederate envoys as well as a formal apology. Although British officials continued to advocate a neutrality policy, without permission from Washington, they ordered his lieutenant troops to board Canada and search additional ships to the shipWestern Atlantic. The U.SNeither the United States nor Great Britain wanted war. boarding party took MasonStill, Slidellit was clear that, and their secretaries as prisonersat best, but allowed the Trent incident had sparked a major diplomatic disagreement and, at worst, appeared to depart have pushed Great Britain and the United States toward the potential for Englandarmed conflict.
British ReactionInitial reaction on both sides of the Atlantic was strong. The United StatesThanks to a communication malfunction, still smarting from the defeat at Bull Run during cable containing the summer, publicly celebrated this turn severe early reaction and demands of events as British officials took almost a victory against the Confederacy and a blow month to Confederate diplomacyarrive in Washington. The BritishBy then, emotions had cooled on the other handboth sides, strongly protested Wilkes’s action as illegal and a violation more balanced view of their neutrality and demanded the release of situation prevailed. Nevertheless, the captive Confederate envoys as well as British still expected a formal apologyresponse from President Abraham Lincoln and emphasized that Captain Wilkes had acted without official authorization. Although British officials continued <div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'>====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=Civil War|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=6}}</div>====Lincoln compromises with Britain and eases Tension====The Lincoln administration understood that it would be unwise to advocate risk a possible armed conflict and perpetuate bad relations with a foreign power while prosecuting a policy of neutrality, they did order troops to Canada war against the Confederacy and additional ships moving to smooth things over diplomatic negotiations. Charles Francis Adams, the Western AtlanticU. Neither the United States nor S. Minister to Great Britain wanted war, but it was clear assured the British that, at best, the Trent incident had sparked United States did not want a major diplomatic disagreement war and advised President Lincoln and, at worst, appeared Secretary of State William Seward that they should conform to have pushed Great Britain and some of the United States toward the potential for armed conflictBritish demands.
Thanks On December 26, 1861, Seward presented an official note summarizing the Lincoln administration’s position to a communication malfunctionLord Lyons, the cable containing the severe early reaction and demands of British officials took almost a month Minister to arrive in Washingtonthe United States. By thenSeward defended Wilkes’ action, emotions although he conceded that Wilkes had cooled on both sides erred by not seizing the Trent and letting a more balanced view court affirmed the legality of the situation prevailedtaking contraband prisoners. Nevertheless, Seward agreed to release the British still expected a response prisoners. Lyons, under orders from President Abraham Lincoln and continued to emphasize that Captain Wilkes had acted without official authorizationLondon, accepted this explanation, thereby diffusing the diplomatic crisis.
Diffusing the Crisis====Conclusion====The Ultimately, President Lincoln administration understood that it would be unwise to risk a possible armed conflict and perpetuate bad relations Secretary Seward were satisfied with a foreign power while it was prosecuting a war against the Confederacy and moved to smooth things over through diplomatic negotiationsthis outcome. Charles Francis AdamsHowever, the U.S. Minister Trent affair confirmed that the British were willing to Great Britain assured defend their neutrality position in the British American Civil War, a position that both the United States did not want a war Union and advised President Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward that they should conform the Confederacy had hoped to some of the British demandschange.
On December 26, 1861, Seward presented an official note summarizing the Lincoln administration’s position to Lord Lyons, the British Minister to the United States. Seward defended Wilkes’ action, although he conceded that Wilkes had erred by not seizing the Trent and letting a court affirm the legality of taking contraband prisoners. Nevertheless, Seward agreed to release the prisoners. Lyons, under orders from London, accepted this explanation thereby diffusing the diplomatic crisis.
Ultimately, President Lincoln and Secretary Seward were satisfied with this outcome* Republished from [https://history.state. However, the Trent affair confirmed that the British were willing to defend their position gov/| Office of neutrality in the American Civil WarHistorian, a position that both the Union and the Confederacy had hoped to changeUnited States Department of State]* Article: [https://history.state.gov/milestones/1861-1865/trent-affair| The Trent Affair, 1861]
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