【11/8 今日美史】著名海战：“特伦特”事件

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11/8

The Trent Affair

When

Where

Who

What

When: 1861

Where: The Atlantic Ocean

Who：

USS San Jacinto and RMS Trent, John Slidell, James Murray Mason

What：

Confederate ambassadors Mason and Slidell were en route to Britain and France on board a British vessel, the Trent, when it was intercepted by the American warship San Jacinto, boarded and the two envoys were arrested as contraband.  This was seen by Britain, and other countries, as a breach of diplomacy and Britain’s neutrality.  The Confederates were hopeful, and the Union realized, that it could cause a serious breach in relations between London and Washington DC, and hasten the former’s support of the Confederate’s bid for independence.

Why

significant

Captain Charles Wilkes of the American vessel did in fact break international law by boarding and arresting people on a neutral vessel, and President Lincoln decided not to risk confrontation with outside powers (Britain specifically) and released Mason and Slidell a few weeks later.  Wilkes was reprimanded but not further punished.  Britain and France, while interested in Southern cotton and potential economic gains by Confederate independence did not, however, formally ally themselves with the Confederacy, or even formally recognize the Confederacy diplomatically: the South’s public statements to the preservation of slavery being a primary issue preventing anything more than casual interest.

Tags

US Civil War, John Slidell, diplomatic recognition