English public opinion and the American Civil War

Bibliographic Information

English public opinion and the American Civil War

Duncan Andrew Campbell

(Royal Historical Society studies in history new series)

Royal Historical Society, 2003

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Note

Based on author's thesis (doctoral)--Cambridge University, 1997

Includes bibliographical references (p. 253-260) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

A study of the development of English opinion on the American Civil War, paying special attention to the issues of slavery, neutral rights, democracy, republicanism, trade and propaganda - a new interpretation. At the end of the American Civil War, both North and South condemned Britain for allegedly sympathising with the other side. Yet after the conflict, a traditional interpretation of the subject arose which divided English sentimentbetween progressivism siding with the Union and conservatism supporting the Confederacy. Despite historians subsequently questioning whether English opinion can be so easily divided, challenging certain aspects and arguments of this version of events, the traditional interpretation has persevered and remains the dominant view of the subject. This work posits that English public and political opinion was not, in fact, split between two such opposing camps- rather, that most in England were suspicious of both sides in the conflict, and even those who did take sides did not consist largely of any one particular social or political group. Covering the period from 1861 to 1865,Campbell traces the development of English opinion on the American Civil War, looking particularly at reaction to issues of slavery, neutral rights, democracy, republicanism, American expansionism,trade and propaganda. In so doing he offers a new interpretation of English attitudes towards the American Civil War. DUNCAN ANDREW CAMPBELL lectures at the Department of American Studies, University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Table of Contents

  • Differences of opinion
  • the "Trent" outrage
  • observations from experience
  • the political debate
  • the Confederacy's partisans
  • who supported the Union?

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