Synthesized answer
The passages explain that the vessel originally known as "No. 290" was built by Messrs. Laird at Birkenhead and was nearly completed by June 1862, obviously intended for a man-of-war [2]. Captain Semmes took command of her under a Confederate commission, and after a destructive career she was sunk off Cherbourg by the “Kearsarge” on June 19, 1864 [1]. The specific actions that made her controversial were that she was built and equipped on British territory, which the United States alleged was a breach of British neutrality [1].
This led to international arbitration because the United States claimed Great Britain had violated neutrality by allowing the “Alabama” and other Confederate vessels to be built and equipped in British territory [1]. The British commissioners eventually agreed to submit the claims to arbitration, and the tribunal found Great Britain legally responsible for the “Alabama’s” depredations, awarding $15,500,000 in gold damages [4][5]. The case is described as a “conspicuous example of the value of arbitration as a means of averting war” [3].
The passages do not provide further specific details about the ship’s construction or the exact sequence of events that…
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…
← 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…
. 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.
ontended that it must be a diligence commensurate with the emergency or with the magnitude of the results of negligence. The British government maintained that while the measure of care which a government is bound to use in such cases must be dependent more or less upon circumstances, it would be unreasonable to require that it should exceed that which the governments of civilized states were accustomed to employ in matters concerning their own security or that of their citizens. The tribunal adopted the view suggested by the United States. It found that Great Britain was legally responsible…
More questions about this book
- The text states that the "Alabama" Arbitration is important "both from a historical and a juridical point of view." Imagine you're explaining this to someone who only understands one aspect: how would you articulate the distinct contributions of both historical context and legal principles to the significance of this case?
- Britain issued a proclamation of neutrality and recognized the Confederates as belligerents, yet the "Alabama" was being built in a British port, leading to demands for its detention. How would you explain to a friend the inherent tension or potential conflict in a nation's declared neutrality versus the actions occurring within its borders during a foreign conflict?
- The article highlights "the value of arbitration as a means of averting war." Based on the facts presented about the "Alabama," how did the diplomatic and legal processes surrounding this vessel, even before an arbitration decision, exemplify or reinforce this value?
- Trace the sequence of events from the Southern States' secession to the US consul's request for the "Alabama"'s detention. How did each specific action or declaration from different parties contribute to escalating this from a domestic conflict to an international dispute involving Britain?