France in the American Civil War
Encyclopedia
The French Empire
remained officially neutral throughout the American Civil War
and never recognized the Confederate States of America
. However, several major industries in France and Emperor Napoleon III had economic interests or territorial ambitions which favored dealings with the Confederacy. At the same time, other French political leaders, such as Foreign Minister Edouard Thouvenel
, favored the United States.
Between 1861 and 1865, the Union blockade
caused a significant decreasing of the French cotton importation, leading to the "famine du coton"(cotton hunger): textile industries of Alsace
, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Normandy
suffered from this shortage of raw material
(which doubled in price in 1862) and were forced to dismiss many workers.
As a result, many French industrialists and politicians were rather favorable to a quick Southern victory. Emperor Napoléon III was also interested in Central America
(trade and plans of transoceanic canal) and wanted to create a new empire in Mexico
, where his troops landed in December 1861. A Confederate victory would have likely made this plan easier.
William L. Dayton
, who was appointed minister to France by President Lincoln
, met the French Foreign Minister, Edouard Thouvenel
, who was perceived to be pro-Union and was influential in dampening Napoleon’s initial inclination towards diplomatic recognition of Confederate independence. However, Thouvenel resigned from office in 1862.
The Southern delegate in Paris, John Slidell
, made offers to Napoléon III : in exchange for a recognition of the Confederate States and naval help sent in New Orleans to break the blockade, the Confederacy would sell raw cotton to France. Count Walewski and Eugène Rouher
agreed with him, but British disapproval and, especially, the first Union military victories led French diplomacy to refuse this plan. In 1864, Napoléon III sent his own dentist and confidant, the Philadelphian Thomas W. Evans
, as an unofficial diplomat to Lincoln and Seward. Evans convinced the Emperor that South defeat was impending.
In keeping with its official neutrality, the French government blocked the sale of the ironclad CSS Stonewall prior to delivery to the Confederacy in February 1864 and resold this ship to the Royal Danish Navy
as the Stærkodder. The ship left Bordeaux on its shakedown cruise with a Danish crew in June 1864. However, the Danish refused to accept the ship due to price disagreements with the shipbuilder L'Arman and L'arman subsequently secretly resold the ship by January 1865 to the Confederacy while still at sea.
France regained normal diplomatic relations with the United States in 1866, when Napoléon III decided to withdraw his troops from Mexico
.
Second French Empire
The Second French Empire or French Empire was the Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870, between the Second Republic and the Third Republic, in France.-Rule of Napoleon III:...
remained officially neutral throughout the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and never recognized the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. However, several major industries in France and Emperor Napoleon III had economic interests or territorial ambitions which favored dealings with the Confederacy. At the same time, other French political leaders, such as Foreign Minister Edouard Thouvenel
Edouard Thouvenel
Edouard Antoine de Thouvenel was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1855 to 1860, and French Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1861 and 1862.-Notes:...
, favored the United States.
Between 1861 and 1865, the Union blockade
Union blockade
The Union Blockade, or the Blockade of the South, took place between 1861 and 1865, during the American Civil War, when the Union Navy maintained a strenuous effort on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the Confederate States of America designed to prevent the passage of trade goods, supplies, and arms...
caused a significant decreasing of the French cotton importation, leading to the "famine du coton"(cotton hunger): textile industries of Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
suffered from this shortage of raw material
Raw material
A raw material or feedstock is the basic material from which a product is manufactured or made, frequently used with an extended meaning. For example, the term is used to denote material that came from nature and is in an unprocessed or minimally processed state. Latex, iron ore, logs, and crude...
(which doubled in price in 1862) and were forced to dismiss many workers.
As a result, many French industrialists and politicians were rather favorable to a quick Southern victory. Emperor Napoléon III was also interested in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
(trade and plans of transoceanic canal) and wanted to create a new empire in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where his troops landed in December 1861. A Confederate victory would have likely made this plan easier.
William L. Dayton
William L. Dayton
William Lewis Dayton was an American politician.A distant relation of U.S. House Speaker and U.S. Constitution signatory Jonathan Dayton, he was born in Basking Ridge, New Jersey to farmer Joel Dayton and his wife...
, who was appointed minister to France by President Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, met the French Foreign Minister, Edouard Thouvenel
Edouard Thouvenel
Edouard Antoine de Thouvenel was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1855 to 1860, and French Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1861 and 1862.-Notes:...
, who was perceived to be pro-Union and was influential in dampening Napoleon’s initial inclination towards diplomatic recognition of Confederate independence. However, Thouvenel resigned from office in 1862.
The Southern delegate in Paris, John Slidell
John Slidell
John Slidell was an American politician, lawyer and businessman. A native of New York, Slidell moved to Louisiana as a young man and became a staunch defender of southern rights as a U.S. Representative and Senator...
, made offers to Napoléon III : in exchange for a recognition of the Confederate States and naval help sent in New Orleans to break the blockade, the Confederacy would sell raw cotton to France. Count Walewski and Eugène Rouher
Eugène Rouher
Eugène Rouher was a French statesman of the Second Empire.He was born at Riom , where he practised law after taking his degree in Paris in 1835. In 1846 he sought election to the Chamber of Deputies as an official candidate of the Guizot ministry...
agreed with him, but British disapproval and, especially, the first Union military victories led French diplomacy to refuse this plan. In 1864, Napoléon III sent his own dentist and confidant, the Philadelphian Thomas W. Evans
Thomas W. Evans
Thomas Wiltberger Evans was a dentist. He performed dental procedures on many heads of state, including Napoleon III, and received numerous medals for his dentistry, including the Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur...
, as an unofficial diplomat to Lincoln and Seward. Evans convinced the Emperor that South defeat was impending.
In keeping with its official neutrality, the French government blocked the sale of the ironclad CSS Stonewall prior to delivery to the Confederacy in February 1864 and resold this ship to the Royal Danish Navy
Royal Danish Navy
The Royal Danish Navy is the sea-based branch of the Danish Defence force. The RDN is mainly responsible for maritime defence and maintaining the sovereignty of Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese territorial waters...
as the Stærkodder. The ship left Bordeaux on its shakedown cruise with a Danish crew in June 1864. However, the Danish refused to accept the ship due to price disagreements with the shipbuilder L'Arman and L'arman subsequently secretly resold the ship by January 1865 to the Confederacy while still at sea.
France regained normal diplomatic relations with the United States in 1866, when Napoléon III decided to withdraw his troops from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.