[IronJack]

The French were still rattling sabers in Mexico, and Great Britain wanted to ensure that France did not expand its New World holdings. Since Mexico borders the Confederate state of Texas, Britain gave some thought to an alliance. Plus, the Brits had been roughed up during the Revolution and 1812, and were still a little sore about those defeats. And then there were their commercial interests in Southern cotton ...

The Confederacy actually sent an "ambassador" to the Court of St. James's to curry favor with Queen Victoria, but her ministers refused to even meet with him and snubbed him very publicly until he finally got the hint and went home.

Early on, the Brits had supplied guns, ammunition, and even warships to the Confederates, and when the Union forcibly removed two diplomats from an English ship, many in Britain declared it an act of war and demanded action against the North. But the crisis was defused when Lincoln freed the diplomats and apologized for the mistake.

[Kartographer]

"roughed up during the Revolution and 1812, and were still a little sore about those defeats"

Still true to this day even after helping them out in two world wars.

[Wallace T.]

Did the German state of Saxe-Coburg recognized the Confederacy? This was the birthplace of Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. Given the dynastic ties, Saxe-Coburg could have served as a stalking horse for Britain’s interests in the South. Had Southern battlefield successes in 1861 and 1862 been more decisive, Britain may have recognized the Confederacy. Napoleon III would only have recognized the country if Britain did so. Had British and French recognition been achieved, the blockade would have been broken and the South had free access to European weaponry. Washington would then have sued for peace, and possibly conceded the border states.