Title: The British Foreign Service and the American Civil War
First published: 1994
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.
Subjects: Diplomatic and consular service, British, British Diplomatic and consular service, Foreign relations, History, Diplomatic and consular service, Great britain, foreign relations, united states, United states, foreign relations, 1783-1865, United states, foreign relations, great britain
Places: Confederate States of America, Great Britain, United States
Time periods: 1861-1865, 19th century
LC classification: E469 .B54 1994