Confederate international relations

Definition

These are diplomatic strategies and relationships that the Confederacy attempted to establish with foreign nations during the Civil War, primarily to gain recognition and support against Union forces.

Analogy

Imagine you're at a party where everyone knows each other but you're new. You try to make friends (or alliances), hoping they'll back you up if there's any trouble - this is similar to what Confederacy tried doing internationally.

Related terms

King Cotton Diplomacy: This was a strategy used by Confederates hoping European countries dependent on Southern cotton would intervene on their behalf in war due to economic interests.

Trent Affair: An international diplomatic incident that occurred during Civil War when U.S Navy illegally captured two Confederate diplomats from British ship 'Trent'.

Blockade Runners: These were ships used by the Confederacy to bypass Union blockades and trade with European nations.