The Confederacy relied on an untested policy of King Cotton. In other words, since Britain was so dependent on cotton for their factories, this could be used as a bargaining wedge to get their assistance in the Civil War. Not only did Britain not help them, but they found other sources for their cotton needs in Egypt and India.
The North was in fear that Great Britian was an ally of the Confederacy. The theory was that the Confederacy would exchange cotton for British military and naval supplies. There was even a document proposing that Jefferson Davis would give control of the Confederacy to the Queen of England and in exchange the Confederacy would be treated as a "Priveledged Colony". (Great Britian coincidentally had a cotton surplus the year that the Confederacy offered cotton for military and naval supplies.)
King Cotton was a phrase used by the South that meant the cotton industry would make the Confederacy a wealthy power and was so essential to Europe it would cause Great Britain and France to support the Confederacy against the US North. Slavery had spread widely in the South before the coining of the term King Cotton. It spread because the economy of the South was based on growing cotton for the world and growing cotton is labor intensive (requires many workers). Thus slaves were required to support the crops.
Cotton played a crucial role in the Civil War, particularly as a symbol of the Southern economy and its reliance on slavery. The South believed that their cotton production would give them leverage over Europe, particularly Britain and France, which depended on Southern cotton for their textile industries. However, the Union's naval blockade significantly hindered cotton exports, leading to shortages and economic strain in the Confederacy. Ultimately, the "cotton diplomacy" strategy failed to secure international recognition or support for the Confederacy.
The South's strategy of cotton diplomacy during the Civil War was based on leveraging its cotton production to gain international support, particularly from Britain and France. Southern leaders believed that European reliance on Southern cotton for their textile industries would compel these nations to intervene on the Confederacy's behalf or at least recognize its sovereignty. They aimed to create a shortage of cotton in Europe, hoping that economic pressure would lead to diplomatic recognition and potential military assistance. However, this strategy ultimately failed as European nations found alternative cotton sources and were reluctant to support the Confederacy due to the moral implications of slavery.
The Confederacy sought to gain the support of border states like Kentucky and Missouri, as well as foreign nations such as Britain and France. They hoped that these alliances would provide military support, economic assistance, and recognition of their sovereignty. The Confederacy believed that their cotton production could leverage trade relationships with these countries, especially in Europe, to secure their backing in the Civil War.
France and England
France and Great britain.
The North was in fear that Great Britian was an ally of the Confederacy. The theory was that the Confederacy would exchange cotton for British military and naval supplies. There was even a document proposing that Jefferson Davis would give control of the Confederacy to the Queen of England and in exchange the Confederacy would be treated as a "Priveledged Colony". (Great Britian coincidentally had a cotton surplus the year that the Confederacy offered cotton for military and naval supplies.)
Europe needed cotton .
The Confederacy believed that Great Britain would intervene via "peace talks" to benefit the South. Confederate leaders believed that cotton was a bargaining chip to be used. It was a valid argument. Great Britain's cotton supply came via the South and 75% of its imported cotton was from the Confederacy. Also, the textile mills in England employed 20% of English workers.
King Cotton was a phrase used by the South that meant the cotton industry would make the Confederacy a wealthy power and was so essential to Europe it would cause Great Britain and France to support the Confederacy against the US North. Slavery had spread widely in the South before the coining of the term King Cotton. It spread because the economy of the South was based on growing cotton for the world and growing cotton is labor intensive (requires many workers). Thus slaves were required to support the crops.
Many southerners hoped dependence on cotton would force great Britain to formally reconize the confederacy as an independent nation.
The primary foreign policy for the Confederate States of America was for the European powers to formerly recognize the Confederacy as an independent nation. Confederate President Jefferson Davis believed that once the South was formerly recognized, economic and military support would follow. This would in Davis' mind guarantee the Confederacy's independence. Even if only the British recognized the Confederacy, that would be enough to discourage the Union from pursuing military action to end the secession.
The European countries wait to help the confederacy. All because Jefferson Davis thought the cotton textile company would lead o a diplomatic recognition and mediation or military intervention.
In order to get military aid from free countries abroad, who would break the blockade and import Southern cotton in exchange for weapons.
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The South thought that the British would be so desperate for cotton that they would immediately grant recognition to the Confederacy. In fact, the British had acquired a glut of cotton, and also the textile workers were solidly anti-slavery.