The Effect of the Battle at Antietam Essay - 1467 Words

The Effect of the Battle at Antietam The effects of the bloodiest battle in American military history spread all over the world; however, the resulting Emancipation Proclamation, in particular, had an enormous impact on Britain’s decision to not recognize the Confederacy as a nation. During a low point for the Union, the birth of this pivotal piece of anti-slavery legislation from the Battle at Antietam helped deter Britain from intervening. The Battle at Antietam and the resulting Proclamation were colossal victories for the Union as they discouraged the intervention of the British, preventing potential war between the United States and Great Britain. In 1862, during the time of the Battle at Antietam, the British Cabinet was†¦show more content†¦Thus, doubt began to linger in the forefront of the minds of the British. Consequently, intervention was delayed. Moreover, Lincoln’s ideas about ending slavery caused Britain to hesitate (Brauer). Two major reasons contributed to Britain seeking intervention as a result of the Battle at Antietam. First is the fact that America practiced slavery. In a letter from Secretary of State William H. Seward to Henry Adams 18 August 1862, Seward wrote, â€Å"I cannot avoid thinking that the ideas of intervention and mediation have their source in an imperfect conception in Europe of the independence of the American Nation† (Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs). It is important to remember that both Britain and France were anti-slavery at the time. Slavery was viewed as one of America’s most noticeable imperfections. Secondly, the cotton famine was severely affecting the British. When the Union captured New Orleans, cotton flow to Britain was still not returned as promised by Seward. Throughout the summer, pressure built for Britain and France to mediate a settlement, which would mean Confederate independence. The Paris Constitutionnel reported in June 1862 that only British intervention would end this bloody war (McPherson 57). In a letter from Henry Adams to Seward in August 1862, Adams thought the cotton famine was shifting support towards the Confederacy in Britain. Also, the government was not strong enough in Britain to forceShow MoreRelatedThe Battle Of Antietam And The Civil War876 Words   |  4 Pagessentence perfectly represents the Battle of Antietam as a turning point in the Civil War and its effect on America decades later. The small step was one man s step on the moon just like the Battle of Antietam was just another battle during the Civil War, but they were short and impact ful events that revolutionized their fields. America s advances in science and technology would not be the same without that one step on the moon. 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