[Clemenza]

The ONLY nation to recognize the South as a sovereign nation was the Vatican, and that happened after Sumter.

I can claim my block as the Federal Republic of Fredonia, but that doesn't make it so.

[P-40]

The ONLY nation to recognize the South as a sovereign nation was the Vatican

Odd considering putting slavery at the forefront was supposed to discourage other nations from getting into the fight. You'd think the Vatican would have given the South a wide berth.

[smug]

I can claim my block as the Federal Republic of Fredonia, but that doesn't make it so.

It would if you could enforce your borders.

[4CJ]

The ONLY nation to recognize the South as a sovereign nation was the Vatican, and that happened after Sumter.

Nonsense. The various Native American nations (held to be such by the US Supreme Court) signed some 29 treaties with the Confederacy. Lincoln's blockade of Southern ports was official recognition of the CSA as a belligerent power under International law, a fact noted by Thaddeus Stevens 9 Dec 1862:

'We, ourselves, by what I consider a most unfortunate act, not well considered -- declared a blockade of their [the Confederate States] ports -- have acknowledged them as a power. We can not blockade our own ports. It is an absurdity. We blockade an enemy's ports. The very fact of declaring this blockade, recognized them a beligerent power entitled to all the privileges and subject to the rules of war, according to the law of nations.'