The Trent Affair

Question

The Trent Affair

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The Trent Affair was a diplomatic crisis between Britain and the United States that almost ruptured their relations during the Civil War. The Union Navy had intercepted a British mail steamer, the Trent, and removed two Confederate diplomats who were on their way to Europe to seek recognition and support for the South. Britain was outraged by the violation of their neutral rights, and tensions between the two countries rose to the brink of war before a peaceful resolution was reached. The Trent Affair highlighted the international dimensions of the Civil War and the importance of diplomacy in managing them.