during the civil war, I have always wondered why , a european country never took advantage of the situation?

Question

and they did not attack us. I wonder how both armies would have reacted to an invasion from abroad.

Answer 1

Like said above, England was willing to support the Confederacy by breaking the Northern Blockade and supplying the Southerners with arms and munitions. However, a real problem with this was slavery, and perhaps one of the North's most strategic moves was Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. This bill didn't physically free any one slave, but it changed the morals and cause of the war in the perception of other countries. This broke the English-potential, as they morally opposed slavery, and had outlawed it in England.

Answer 2

A conflict of trade and civics.

Britain and the southern confederacy had a strong trading relationship. The South would export raw cotton to Britain, who, at the height of their industrial revolution, could easily spin it into clothes, which were then shipped worldwide.

The North practically BEGGED Britain to enter the war; they even seized British diplomats. One of the main issues however was slavery.

While the United States was still a fledgling nation, the almighty British Crown had banned slavery across the entire empire, and other European nations were following suit. To ally with a nation built on the backs of slaves would be a terrible thing to do.

While European powers didn't get directly involved, British North America (a.k.a. Canada) churned out warships, some of which were bought by the Confederacy; the most famous being the CSS Alabama.

Above all, Britain was in the midst of war with the Russians; the Tsar of the time (his name escapes me) seemed to believe that HE was the savior of Europe, to liberate the countries and restore absolute monarchy. He was soundly beaten.

Answer 3

England did try and get involved on the Southern side. France and Spain were heading toward a war in Mexico, which erupted shortly after the end of the Civil War.

Answer 4

it suited Britain that the two armies were fighting, they had beaten the USA in 1812 war and while the USA had plans to invade Canada again Lincoln told his Secretary of War not to open a second front. Britain had just fort the Crimea war and was engaged with Russia in the great game. Britain was expanding its African empire and middle eastern empire and Asian empire.
The rest of Europe was still recovering Napoleon and were looking to either settle or resolve the difficulties caused by him. A number of revolutions were starting or about to start or looked like they were about to start . India was always more important to Britain than the USA and has just revolted .The scramble in Africa was happening, France was expanding in Indo-china. South America was in ferment and their ex colonial masters were looking that way. Italy was heading towards federation. Franco- Prussian war was building. America wasn't of much interest to Europe, if you wanted to expand there were richer areas involving less effort than the USA. USA wasn't a world player or able to be a world player, so strategically why would any country care about the American civil war? Britain has already cut off the USA slave trading in Africa and intellectually tghe English civil war was 100 times more significant than the American civil war.

in short no one cared or wanted the USA it was a bit of back water, that wouldnt justify the expence of invading

Answer 5

they didnt attack us because we had them most incredible war machine in the history of the world armed and in the field.....and thats not counting the confederates who were pretty bad in their own right.............actually the entire world was scared crapless because they thought we might turn that army loose on europe

After the war their was a huge parade and all the union armies marched past big shots including the europeans

ONe german general said after the first union army marched past that it was the most spendid he had ever seen
after the second army (under grant ) marched past he said that army could easily conquer all of Europe
after the third union army marched past (Shermans) the german said that army could easily conqueor the entire world.......

Answer 6

actually the english were going to help the confederacy, in some ways they did but they were going to help them out militarily because the feds in the north knocked the brits up before

Answer 7

Europe was warned to stay out of it. The Confederacy wanted the UK to come in on their side, but it did not.

Answer 8

who in their right mind would want to get between two angry American armies?

Answer 9

They were busy with their own intrigues.