Trent Affair
Georgi Darnell – 12
U.S. History
Trent Affair
Mrs. Karpitsky
The Trent Affair
During the first year of the American Civil War, a diplomatic crisis occurred between Great Britain and the United States. The crisis, known as The Trent Affair, came very close to causing a war between the two countries. War was ultimately avoided leaving both Great Britain and the United States in a better position with one another. Two diplomats, James Mason and John Slidell were to be sent to Britain and France by the confederate president, Jefferson Davis. Davis along with the Confederacy hoped to press the Confederacy’s agenda for diplomatic recognition and lobby for military and financial support, all in the name of cotton diplomacy. James Mason from Virginia and was to be a minister to Britain and John Slidell from Louisiana and was to be a minister to France. Sending Mason and Slidell on behalf of the Confederacy was no secret to the Union which kept a watchful eye on the situation. However, it they weren't too very watchful because when the Union heard that the two confederate diplomats had left Charleston, they ended up chasing down the wrong ship. Mason and Slidell were believed to have been on the ship The Nashville but when it docked on November 21, 1861, they were a bit shocked to find that Mason and Slidell were not on board. Mason and Slidell had somehow managed to get around the Union blockade and make their way to Cuba. Once in Cuba, Mason and Slidell boarded a British mail steamer named the Trent in hopes of gaining passage across the Atlantic Ocean. As I mentioned previously, the Union were trying to intercept the ship carrying the diplomats. Captain Charles Wilkes, commander of the Union steam frigate the USS San Janico, found out that Mason and Slidell were aboard the Trent while he and his crew were docked near Cienfuegos. Commander Wilkes also found out that the Trent was scheduled to leave Cuba on November seventh and he had the ability to intercept the
U.S. History
Trent Affair
Mrs. Karpitsky
The Trent Affair
During the first year of the American Civil War, a diplomatic crisis occurred between Great Britain and the United States. The crisis, known as The Trent Affair, came very close to causing a war between the two countries. War was ultimately avoided leaving both Great Britain and the United States in a better position with one another. Two diplomats, James Mason and John Slidell were to be sent to Britain and France by the confederate president, Jefferson Davis. Davis along with the Confederacy hoped to press the Confederacy’s agenda for diplomatic recognition and lobby for military and financial support, all in the name of cotton diplomacy. James Mason from Virginia and was to be a minister to Britain and John Slidell from Louisiana and was to be a minister to France. Sending Mason and Slidell on behalf of the Confederacy was no secret to the Union which kept a watchful eye on the situation. However, it they weren't too very watchful because when the Union heard that the two confederate diplomats had left Charleston, they ended up chasing down the wrong ship. Mason and Slidell were believed to have been on the ship The Nashville but when it docked on November 21, 1861, they were a bit shocked to find that Mason and Slidell were not on board. Mason and Slidell had somehow managed to get around the Union blockade and make their way to Cuba. Once in Cuba, Mason and Slidell boarded a British mail steamer named the Trent in hopes of gaining passage across the Atlantic Ocean. As I mentioned previously, the Union were trying to intercept the ship carrying the diplomats. Captain Charles Wilkes, commander of the Union steam frigate the USS San Janico, found out that Mason and Slidell were aboard the Trent while he and his crew were docked near Cienfuegos. Commander Wilkes also found out that the Trent was scheduled to leave Cuba on November seventh and he had the ability to intercept the