The American Civil War:
The American Civil War is increasingly considered a major nineteenth century event not just in American history but also in global politics, with ramifications for the future of slavery and ideas of popular, democratic government. Both Unionists and Confederates conducted separate but parallel diplomatic negotiations and trade arrangements with European nations, particularly Britain and France, while the choices Europe made had an impact on the war and subsequent international dynamics.
The American Civil War: The International Context demonstrates the involvement of European nations in the American Civil War, including their internal discussions, reactions to approaches from Unionists and Confederates, the challenges and advantages the American conflict brought, and its impact on politics and society.
VALUE OF THE ARCHIVE
Multiple Perspectives: The diplomatic correspondence regarding the American Civil War is complemented by papers of cotton merchants and shipbuilders, papers of pro-Union and pro-Confederate societies, letters home from Europeans who enlisted in the war, and legal documents relating to compensation after the war’s end.
Comprehensive Coverage: The London American and The Index—Britain-based pro-Union and pro-Confederacy newspapers, respectively—are both included to give researchers insights into contrasting viewpoints and propaganda that aimed to shape British public opinion during the American Civil War. Both newspapers are cross-searchable.
Topical Relevance: While the American Civil War is a fundamental topic of every university course on American history, lecturers are increasingly looking to teach the war in its transnational context. This archive provides the primary source insights needed to analyse the war from an international perspective.
COLLECTIONS INCLUDE
The National Archives, UK
• Records from the Foreign Office: Political and Other Departments:
General Correspondence before 1906, United States of America,
Series II, 218,540 pages
• Records from the Foreign Office: Embassy and Consulates,
United States of America: General Correspondence, 115,840 pages
• Admiralty and Ministry of Defence, various departments, 9,908 pages
• Lord John Russell Papers, 13,324 pages
• Home Office, 3,556 pages
British Library
• The London American, 1860–1863, 1,260 pages
• The Index. A Weekly Journal of Politics … Devoted to the exposition
of mutual interests, political and commercial of Great Britain and the
Confederate State of America, 1862–1865, 2,752 pages
Library of Congress
• Henry Hotze Papers, 1861–1865, 436 pages
Archives Centre, National Museums Liverpool
• Fraser, Trenholm & Co. Papers, 1860–1877, 15,410 pages
• Bryson Collection, Cobham Family Records, 1862–1865, 400 pages
• George Busk Crow Letters, 1861–1864, 110 pages
Additional Details
subjects covered
- American History
- International Relations
- British Studies
- Military History
- European Studies
- History
- Economic History
