The British Foreign Service and the American Civil War
By: Eugene H. Berwanger.
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Published: 1994
Place of publication: Lexington, Ky
Language: eng
Number of pages: 215
Subjects: Diplomatic and consular service, British -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Diplomatic and consular service, British -- Confederate States of America.; United States -- Foreign relations -- 1861-1865.; United States -- Foreign relations -- Great Britain.; Great Britain -- Foreign relations -- United States.
Description: During the American Civil War, the British legation and consuls experienced strained relations with both the Union and the Confederacy, to varying degrees and with different results. Southern consuls were cut off from the legation in Washington, D.C., and confronted their problems for the most part without direction from superiors. Consuls in the North sought assistance from the British foreign minister and followed the procedures he established.

Diplomatic relations with Great Britain eased tensions in the North; the British consuls in the South were expelled in 1863. Eugene H. Berwanger uses archival sources in both Britain and the United States as a basis for his reevaluation of consular attitudes. Because much of this material was not available to earlier historians of British-American diplomacy, the author expands upon their conclusions and suggests reinterpretations in light of the new information.

The first comprehensive investigation of Anglo-American relations during the Civil War, The British Foreign Service and the American Civil War will interest scholars of American history and diplomatic relations.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [200]-208) and index.