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The American Civil War (1861-1865)
The American Civil War not only effected America, it effected England
as well. Due to a Union Naval Officer in November 1861, firing two
shots across a English merchant ship, and stopping it to search for and
removal of two confederate representatives one going to France and the
other going to England.
England was not amused that one of their ships had been stopped by
Americans on the High Seas, decided that they would send to Canada 12
thousand troops. The troops never actually landed there. A severe letter was sent to the Union demanding
an apology and the release of the two prisoners. Lincoln decided
to apologise and release the prisoners. It could have been
interesting because some of the Union thought they could take on the
English.
Also from the War came the Cotton Famine which severely hit the
employment in the mills of England. This was caused by the South unofficially
withholding Cotton from Europe hoping that Union blockades would be
cleared or Europe would back the South.
Due to stockpiling in 1860, the price of cotton rose sharply in 1861,
but workers not employers felt the effects. The producers relied on
their stockpiles but by 1862, they were feeling the affects, a year
later imports from Egypt, Brazil and India replaced the Southern Cotton.
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