Blue and Gray Diplomacy: A History of Union and Confederate Foreign Relations (Littlefield History of the Civil War Era) [Hardcover]

Howard Jones (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 18, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0807833495 | ISBN-13: 978-0807833490

In this examination of Union and Confederate foreign relations during the Civil War from both European and American perspectives, Howard Jones demonstrates that the consequences of the conflict between North and South reached far beyond American soil.

Jones explores a number of themes, including the international economic and political dimensions of the war, the North's attempts to block the South from winning foreign recognition as a nation, Napoleon III's meddling in the war and his attempt to restore French power in the New World, and the inability of Europeans to understand the integrated nature of slavery and union, resulting in their tendency to interpret the war as a senseless struggle between a South too large and populous to have its independence denied and a North too obstinate to give up on the preservation of the Union. Most of all, Jones explores the horrible nature of a war that attracted outside involvement as much as it repelled it.

Written in a narrative style that relates the story as its participants saw it play out around them, Blue and Gray Diplomacy depicts the complex set of problems faced by policy makers from Richmond and Washington to London, Paris, and St. Petersburg.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The first inclusive history of Civil War diplomacy in more than four decades. . . An engaging, analytical, and compact assessment. . . . A laudable and most welcome account."
-American Historical Review

"A thorough, highly detailed, massively researched volume. . . . No matter how much you think you know about the Civil War, there is plenty here that is new and intriguing."
-Tuscaloosa News

"Distinguished by its international focus, comprehensive coverage of the North and South, and highly readable form. . . . This compelling study will appeal to both scholars and a general readership."
-Civil War Book Review

"Howard Jones is one of the most prolific historians when it comes to Civil War diplomacy….[He] presents a long awaited synthesis…that relies on his twenty years of research….He has topped off a prolific decade of scholarship."
-Southern Historian

"Wide-ranging connections, insights, and reassessments. . . . The most comprehensive single-volume account of Civil War foreign relations."
-Register of the Kentucky Historical Society

"A very valuable, densely researched, well-written, and thought-provoking book."
-H-Civil War

"Jones has reshaped the history of Civil War diplomacy. . . . Extensive research and clear insights [create] a thoughtful and precise study."
-Journal of American History

"[A] thoroughly researched, engagingly written history. . . . By relating events from both the American and European points of view, Jones allows readers to understand pivotal events on both sides of the Atlantic."
-Florida Times-Union

"Written in a narrative style that relates the story as its participants saw it play out around them, ###Blue and Gray Diplomacy# depicts the complex set of problems faced by policy makers from Richmond and Washington to London, Paris, and St. Petersburg."
-McCormick Messenger

"Might be the best book available and one that is required reading for anyone interested in the subject [American diplomacy during the Civil War]. . . . Will be a valuable addition to your library. This is a book you will read more than once and should be an award winner."
-America's Civil War Blog

"This is an engagingly written, thought-provoking, and persuasive exploration of Civil War diplomatic history. Even those familiar with the subject will extract pleasure and profit from Jones's lucid and thoughtful reassessment."
-Martin Crawford, Keele University

From the Inside Flap

In an examination of Union and Confederate foreign relations during the Civil War from both European and American perspectives, Jones explores a number of themes, including the international economic and political dimensions of the war, the North's attempts to block the South from winning foreign recognition as a nation, Napoleon III's meddling in the war and his attempt to restore French power in the New World, and the inability of Europeans to understand the interrelated nature of slavery and union. Most of all, Jones explores the horrible nature of a war that attracted outside involvement as much as it repelled it.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press (December 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807833495
• ISBN-13: 978-0807833490
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 1.4 x 6.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > History > Americas > United States > Civil War > Confederacy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A different view of diplomacy January 22, 2010

By James W. Durney TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

American diplomacy during the Civil War centers on preventing England from recognizing the Confederacy. The short story is that England did/did not wish to recognize the Confederacy, depending on the person you are talking with. America's threat of war caused them to hold off until the Emancipation Proclamation at which time recognition was impossible. This story, with few variations, always told from the American point of view dominates this story of diplomacy during the war.
Howard Jones refuses to follow the accepted story. In doing so, he wrote what might be the best book available and one that is required reading for anyone interested in the subject. The most important change is to look at the Civil War from Europe's perspective. Switching viewpoints produces a very different history, nuanced, complex with opportunities and dangers. Emancipation and slavery are important as moral questions but in diplomacy, advantage outweighs morality every time.
In 1860, England had fought two wars with the United States in less than 90 years. They are facing a republic that is on the verge of becoming an Atlantic power and a potential challenge to their supremacy. Having the United States split into two nations, one of them a semi-client state is an advantage. War with the United States, a possible invasion of Canada, is dangerous. The danger is even greater as the United States Navy is going to ironclad ships and England is lagging behind. England fought France allied with Russia, Austria and Prussia at the turn of the century. However, the last war found England allied with France fighting Russia. Napoleon III is untrustworthy, unskilled in diplomacy and given to adventurous pronouncements. The alliance with France is an advantage as Prussia building the German states into a nation but it is full of perils. The cotton famine hurts but they can manage the pain for now.
Napoleon III waits for England's lead. He needs to maintain their friendship while adventuring in Italy and Mexico. Austria dragged into France's adventures is less happy as time passes. France would like to restore their possessions in the "New World" and sees the Confederacy as a possible path to this goal. Even allied to England, France tries to gain the upper hand at England's expense. France hurt by the cotton famine is not managing as well as England.
Russia is the United States' firm friend and objects to any European meddling in the war. However, Russia is still smarting from the Crimean War and would like to derail the English French alliance.
The United States of America suffers a rebellion that becomes a shooting war creating a host of questions, opportunities and dangers for Europe's powers.
England has mixed emotions about the combatants. Most of the upper class favors the CSA. Initially, since the war is not about slavery, the working class wants cotton so they can work There is an underlying pro USA feeling but it isn't going to stop the government from doing what is best for the country. What is best for England, suffers a series of twist and turns that tax all participants and bring them close to war more than once. The Trent Affair and the Laird Rams are the best-known examples. English neutrality is a major question during the war that the book fully explores. The reasons why selected, how the English sees neutrality, their obligations and expectations are the foundation of their policies. The America reaction mystified them, as neither understands the other's objections.
An area seldom explored is the humanitarian reasons for intervention. International Law provided for neutrals to intervene when a war could not be won and was hurting them. The author gives us an excellent look into this area and why England and France could consider this course of action.
Why did intervention not occur? How close did England come? Would France elect to go it alone and intervene? The author's answers to these questions challenge the accepted story but he supports these answers.
The book is fully illustrated and footnoted. This well written very readable book is a "must read" for any student of the war looking beyond "Battles & Leaders". It will be a valuable addition to your library. This is a book that you will read more than once and should be an award winner.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A look at Union and Confederate Foreign Relations fom both sides of the Atlantic July 31, 2010

By CTS 2631

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The American point of view when it comes to foreign intervention from England and France during the Civil War is that it almost did happen until the Union "victory" at the battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg, Maryland (September 17, 1862) and the declaration of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln (September 22, 1862) changed the European powers minds and made it morally impossible for them to intervene in the internal affairs of the United States.

This excellent book by author Howard Jones proves that both England and France saw the battle of Antietam for what it actually was, a bloody tactical draw that only ended Confederate General Robert E. Lee's raid into Maryland. And the English (Prime Minister/Parliment), instead of seeing the Emancipation Proclamation as a great humanitarian act, were outraged by it and believed it was a call for servile insurrection and race war in the American South by a Union government desperate for victory. While the French (Emperor Napolean III/interventionist in the French government) felt the Emancipation Proclamation showed that the slavery issue in America was on its way to resolution, and allowed them to act for economic (ailing textile industry needing cotton) and imperial (Napolean's desire to revive the French colonial empire in North America) reasons.

But the battle of Antietam and the Emancipation Proclamation are just part of the story of diplomatic intrigues and crisis that helped define the Civil War and almost propelled the Union into open conflict with one or more European nations a few times before the close of hostilities.

This volume gives a complete history of Union and Confederate foreign relations with the European powers during the Civil War chronologically from the beginning of hostilities until the defeat of the Confederacy. The story is told from both sides point of view at the time the events took place instead of just looking at it from the Union/Confederate perspective. The result is a great read that questions preconcieved notions on this topic through the use of factual evidence found in the personal writings of the participants (heads of state, government officials, diplomats) and government records (Union, Confederate, English, French, etc.) from both sides of the Atlantic.

In this reviewers humble opinion, "Blue & Gray Diplomacy" should be considered "THE" book on this subject, and will lead to a paradigm shift in the way these events are remembered in American history.

Well written, illustrated, researched, and footnoted, this book will be a valuable addition to anyones Civil War book collection or a good read for anyone that just likes American history. I cant recommend it enough.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Civil war from different viewpoint March 31, 2012

By Bernard Lavallee

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Unsurpassed in its detail depiction of the controversy aroused by the Civil War in both France and England, especially surrounding mediation followed by intervention. Upholding the truth of self-interest, the author explores in detail the reasons both England and France wanted to intervene in the American Civil War. Using moral reasons as a vague cover to their economic and imperialistic plans the author outlines just how close they did come to stepping into the fray. The title, however, is a bit misleading, it should read 'Gray Diplomacy' in the Civil War since very little attention is paid to the union diplomatic side. Otherwise a must read for Civil War fans.