The Trent Affair Essay

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The Trent Affair was a strategic crisis that took place between Great Britain and the United States. The crisis began after the captain of the of the USS San Jacinto ordered an arrest of two emissaries sailing to Europe on board of a British mail ship, the Trent, to look for support for the South in the Civil War. This led to a dispute on who and what started this crisis but at the end of the day everyone pointed their fingers to San Jacinto. The british, who didn't take sides in the war, were furious and stated the seizure of a ship by the U.S Navy was a violation of the law which technically they were not wrong. The nation carried this in rebellion and disobedience. They grew in their anger making them over power the nation by not only what …show more content…

Charles Wilkes was a well known captain and known to some for the destruction he created and the victory of others. Some citizens opposed Wilkes and some defended his choice of ambush. Mason and Slidell were then arrested and transported to Boston and imprisoned at Fort Warren on their way to England and France for a recognition of the Confederacy. The Trent was allowed to continue its adventure after the men's arrest even if they were assigned the mission or not. The British had not taken sides in the Civil War and their policy was to accept any paying costumer who wished to travel on their ships for transportation. The British government dismissed a message to the American government that demanded the release of Slidell and Mason, along with an apology for the overstepping of British rights on the seas. Britain was not backing down and decided that war was completely essential and necessary. British began to prepare for war, banning all exports of any war materials to America and sending troops to Canada. They planned a strategic attack that is now famous in recognition of attacking a state or

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