Synthesized answer
The passages indicate that the British government issued a proclamation of neutrality on May 14, 1861, recognizing the Confederates as belligerents [2]. This action, along with a general manifestation of unfriendliness, constituted one of the grievances the United States government alleged against Great Britain [1]. The secession of the Southern States from the Union, based on the "slavery question," led to hostilities beginning on April 13, 1861 [4].
Regarding the "Alabama," the passages do not explicitly detail how the foundational issues of slavery and secession influenced the British government's *initial* proclamation of neutrality or its *subsequent* response to reports about the ship's construction. However, it is stated that after the secession and the start of hostilities, President Lincoln declared a blockade of southern ports, and shortly thereafter, the British government issued its proclamation of neutrality and recognized the Confederates as belligerents [2, 4]. The passages then note that the "Alabama" was being built in Birkenhead in June 1862, and a letter detailing particulars about her character was forwarded to Earl Russell, leading to advice that the vessel…
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
rpool in two British ships. Captain Semmes there took command of her under a commission from the Confederate government. After a most destructive career she was sunk off Cherbourg by the “Kearsarge” on the 19th of June 1864. On these facts the United States government alleged against Great Britain two grievances, or sets of grievances. The first was the recognition of the Southern States as belligerents and a general manifestation of unfriendliness in other ways. The second was in respect of breaches of neutrality in allowing the “Alabama,” the “Florida” (originally the “Oreto”, the…
tes on the 13th of April 1861. On the 19th of April President Abraham Lincoln declared a blockade of the southern ports. On the 14th of May the British government issued a proclamation of neutrality, by which the Confederates were recognized as belligerents. This example was followed shortly afterwards by France and other nations. The blockade of the southern ports was not at first effective, and blockade-running soon became an active industry. The Confederates established agencies in England for the purchase of arms, which they despatched in ordinary merchant vessels to the Bahamas, whence…
. With respect to the “Alabama” claims the British commissioners suggested that they should be submitted to arbitration. The American commissioners refused “unless the principles which should govern the arbitrators in the consideration of the facts could be first agreed upon.” After some discussion the British commissioners consented that the three following rules should apply.
← Alabama 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 "Alabama" Arbitration by Montague Hughes Crackanthorpe Alabama River → See also Alabama Claims on Wikipedia ; and our 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica disclaimer . 244259 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 — "Alabama" Arbitration Montague Hughes Crackanthorpe “ALABAMA” ARBITRATION. —This is one of those arbitrations on pecuniary claims, made by one state, on behalf of its subjects, against another state, which are referred to in the article Arbitration, International . The case is important, both from a historical and a juridical point of…
nfriendly utterances of British politicians and the material assistance afforded to the Confederates by British traders. The inclusion of the indirect losses and the other matters just referred to caused great excitement in England. That they were within the treaty was disputed, and it was argued that, if they were, the treaty should be amended or denounced. In October 1872 Lord Granville notified to General Schenck, the United States minister, that the British government did not consider that the indirect losses were within the submission, and in April the British counter-case was filed…
More questions about this book
- The text states the "Alabama" Arbitration "affords a conspicuous example of the value of arbitration as a means of averting war." Explain, using only the details provided, how the specific actions and circumstances described in this excerpt support this claim.
- Given the British government's "proclamation of neutrality," how might a contemporary observer reconcile this declared stance with the building of the "Alabama," an obvious man-of-war, by a British firm for the Confederates? What ethical or legal dilemmas does this situation present for a neutral nation?
- Imagine you are Mr. C. F. Adams, the United States consul. What specific "particulars" and "sworn evidence" would be most crucial for you to present to the British law officers to compel them to detain the "Alabama," based on the limited information provided in the text?
- How did the Confederate strategy of establishing "agencies in England for the purchase of arms" and utilizing "blockade-running," as described, directly challenge President Lincoln's blockade and potentially complicate international relations during the American Civil War?