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====Confederate Envoysby US aboard British Ship====Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, had dispatched these envoys—James Mason, former Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and John Slidell, a prominent New Orleans lawyer—to secure British and French recognition of the Confederate States as a sovereign nation. Great Britain and France had maintained their diplomatic relations with the United States following the outbreak of the Civil War outbreak and had recognized the Confederacy as a belligerent power, but not a sovereign government, in early 1861. Davis sought to change this by negotiating with these nations for full diplomatic recognition. Official diplomatic recognition by Britain and France would not only lend credibility to the Confederacy’s bid for independence but would also pave the way for lucrative trade deals between the Confederate States and the European powers. Davis hoped that recent Confederate victories against Union troops would favorably dispose British and French officials to receive his envoys.

In October 1861, Mason Davis sought to change this by negotiating with these nations for full diplomatic recognition. Official diplomatic recognition by Britain and Slidell slipped through France would not only lend credibility to the U.SConfederacy’s bid for independence. naval blockade and left CharlestonStill, South Carolina for Cuba, where they took passage it would also pave the way for England on lucrative trade deals between the Trent. U.S. Captain Wilkes intercepted the Trent on November 8, 1861 Confederate States and, without permission from Washington, ordered his lieutenant to board and search the ship. The U.SEuropean powers. boarding party took Mason, Slidell, Davis hoped that recent Confederate victories against Union troops would favorably dispose British and their secretaries as prisoners, but allowed the Trent French officials to depart for Englandreceive his envoys.

British ReactionInitial reaction on both sides of In October 1861, Mason and Slidell slipped through the Atlantic was strongU. The United StatesS. naval blockade and left Charleston, South Carolina, for Cuba, still smarting from where they took passage for England on the defeat at Bull Run during Trent. U.S. Captain Wilkes intercepted the summerTrent on November 8, 1861, publicly celebrated this turn of events as a victory against the Confederacy and a blow , without permission from Washington, ordered his lieutenant to Confederate diplomacyboard and search the ship. The BritishU.S. boarding party took Mason, on the other handSlidell, strongly protested Wilkes’s action as illegal and a violation of their neutrality and demanded the release of the captive Confederate envoys as well secretaries as a formal apology. Although British officials continued to advocate a policy of neutrality, they did order troops to Canada and additional ships to the Western Atlantic. Neither the United States nor Great Britain wanted war, prisoners but it was clear that, at best, allowed the Trent incident had sparked a major diplomatic disagreement and, at worst, appeared to have pushed Great Britain and the United States toward the potential depart for armed conflictEngland.

Thanks ====Britain Orders Troops to a communication malfunctionCanada in Response====[[File:John_Slidell_LA_1859.jpg|left|thumbnail|300px|John Slidell, 1859]]The initial reaction on both sides of the Atlantic was strong. The United States, still smarting from the cable containing defeat at Bull Run during the severe early reaction summer, publicly celebrated this turn of events as a victory against the Confederacy and demands of British officials took almost a month blow to arrive in WashingtonConfederate diplomacy. By thenOn the other hand, emotions had cooled on both sides the British strongly protested Wilkes’s action as illegal and a more balanced view violation of their neutrality and demanded the situation prevailed. Nevertheless, release of the British still expected captive Confederate envoys as well as a response from President Abraham Lincoln and continued to emphasize that Captain Wilkes had acted without official authorizationformal apology.

Diffusing the CrisisThe Lincoln administration understood that it would be unwise Although British officials continued to risk advocate a possible armed conflict neutrality policy, they ordered troops to Canada and perpetuate bad relations with a foreign power while additional ships to the Western Atlantic. Neither the United States nor Great Britain wanted war. Still, it was prosecuting clear that, at best, the Trent incident had sparked a war against the Confederacy major diplomatic disagreement and moved to smooth things over through diplomatic negotiations. Charles Francis Adams, the U.S. Minister at worst, appeared to have pushed Great Britain assured the British that and the United States did not want a war and advised President Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward that they should conform to some of toward the British demandspotential for armed conflict.

On December 26, 1861Thanks to a communication malfunction, Seward presented an official note summarizing the Lincoln administration’s position to Lord Lyons, cable containing the severe early reaction and demands of British Minister officials took almost a month to the United Statesarrive in Washington. Seward defended Wilkes’ actionBy then, although he conceded that Wilkes emotions had erred by not seizing the Trent cooled on both sides, and letting a court affirm more balanced view of the legality of taking contraband prisonerssituation prevailed. Nevertheless, Seward agreed to release the prisoners. Lyons, under orders British still expected a response from London, accepted this explanation thereby diffusing the diplomatic crisisPresident Abraham Lincoln and emphasized that Captain Wilkes had acted without official authorization.

Ultimately, President ====Lincoln compromises with Britain and eases Tension====The Lincoln administration understood that it would be unwise to risk a possible armed conflict and Secretary Seward were satisfied perpetuate bad relations with this outcomea foreign power while prosecuting a war against the Confederacy and moving to smooth things over diplomatic negotiations. HoweverCharles Francis Adams, the Trent affair confirmed that U.S. Minister to Great Britain, assured the British were willing to defend their position of neutrality in that the American Civil War, United States did not want a position war and advised President Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward that both they should conform to some of the Union and the Confederacy had hoped to changeBritish demands.

On December 26, 1861, Seward presented an official note summarizing the Lincoln administration’s position to Lord Lyons, the British Minister to the United States. Seward defended Wilkes’ action, although he conceded that Wilkes had erred by not seizing the Trent and letting a court affirmed the legality of taking contraband prisoners. Nevertheless, Seward agreed to release the prisoners. Lyons, under orders from London, accepted this explanation, thereby diffusing the diplomatic crisis. ====Conclusion====Ultimately, President Lincoln and Secretary Seward were satisfied with this outcome. However, the Trent affair confirmed that the British were willing to defend their neutrality position in the American Civil War, a position that both the Union and the Confederacy had hoped to change. <youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRGca8Lgwag</youtube> <div class="portal" style='float:left; width:35%'>====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=Civil War|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=6}}</div> * Republished from [https://history.state.gov/| Office of the Historian, United States Department of State]* Article: [https://history.state.gov/milestones/1861-1865/trent-affair| The Trent Affair, 1861] [[Category:US State Department]] [[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Civil War]] [[Category: History of the Early Republic]] [[Category:19th Century History]] [[Category:Political History]] [[Category:Diplomatic History]]