America's Relationship During The Anglo-American Revolutionary War

From the Revolutionary War to the present day the Anglo-American relationship, while always present, has developed from fragile and immature to a strong, mutually beneficial alliance granting both countries security, economic growth and global power. The United States of America was formed from thirteen British Colonies. The Revolutionary War in 1776 was America’s declaration of independence but it would be some time before they were completely recognized by all foreign powers. After America defeated Great Britain there was tension and conflict between the two countries. This tension continued to dissipate as Great Britain and America realized how beneficial their relationship is. Anglo-American relations continued to improve so greatly,

Although there was no clear winner America gained respect from Great Britain and this war is often referred to as America’s second independence war. After the war, controversy between the countries remained but never led to another war, all disagreements were solved diplomatically with the creation of treaties. The Anglo-American relationship was maturing and forming. The development halted during the American Civil War when Great Britain supported the Confederacy. During the first hundred years of America’s independent existence the Anglo-American relationship was very

Due to the British dependency on cotton there was a strong relationship between Britain and the Confederacy. When the war began the British issued a Proclamation of Neutrality but did recognize the South as an aggressor. The Union understood both of these actions as the British siding with the South and this angered them. More direct actions were also taken to support the South. The South bought ships from Great Britain which were being used to attack Union merchant ships. Also, British merchants were blockade running, sneaking through the Union’s blockade, in order to trade with the Confederate states. Luckily for the future of Anglo-American relations the Confederacy made a mistake and misread the situation with Britain. They decided to embargo all cotton to Great Britain to force them to choose a side. This would have worked if not for Great Britain’s strong desire to stay out of the American war and the fact that they had enough cotton in warehouses and enough other sources to make do until the end of the war. Also, once President Abraham Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation European powers realized the point of the war. Once the Union declared that the Civil War was really a war against slavery Britain was willing to do without American cotton. Although Great Britain never fully joined the war on the side of the Confederacy their initial actions and the use of their ships was enough for