Salah

This is a question for all the forum's enthusiasts of American or British history. In the century between the War of 1812 and WW1, what was the British perception of the United States. At what point did the British government cease to view America as a collection of rogue colonies, and how did the "common" people of Britain view America?

As I understand it, there was some bad blood between the United States government and Great Britain at least as late as the American Civil War, during which the Confederacy hoped for British recognition.

Any answers would be most appreciated.

betgo

As far as the Civil War, the reasons that the Confederacy was hoping for recognition, aid, or the British joining the war were not primarily a hostility towards the US. The Confederacy wanted free trade of cotton for British manufactured goods. It might be to the advantage of Britain to break up a potential great power. Also, the British aristocracy was related to the southern plantation owners.

Earl_of_Rochester

I believe the nosey Brits sold rifles to the Confederate States too.

betgo

The British built commerce raiding ships that were launched with southern officers and British crews. The most famous and successful of these was the CSS Alabama. These pretty much destroyed the US merchant marine, which was a big competitor to British shipping. Of course the US did not want to be provoked into war with Britain.

halomanuk

The 19c relationship between Britain and US was fine,with good trading and steady population traffic between the two countries.
Britain had many Americans living here and lots visited the 'Great Exhibition' in 1851.

This was a golden age for Britain in regards to the Empire and industry so our attention was more sighted on the East than the West.

As for the British public,it depended on the class of the person.The upper class maybe still frowned on the US as an upstart,whereas the lower and middle classes saw it as an opportunity or a promised land away from poverty in many parts of GB's major cities.
I'm generalising this of course as it didn't apply to everyone as a general rule.

redFusilier

Abraham Lincoln was very highly regarded in 19th century England, particuarly in cities like Manchester and Liverpool. I think there is a statue of him there today.

TexasRebel

That's odd. I've read that Liverpool was a hot bed of pro-Confederate sympathizers.

redFusilier

He was seen as a champion of the working class to people in England. Many people put portraits of him on their walls. The reform act of 1867 which enfranchised millions of workers in England, Scotland and wales, was due in part to the union victory, which emboldened the forces who demanded reform in Britain.

Belgarion

One of these raiders, CSS Shennandoah, caused an international incident when it refitted in Melbourne during the war. The US consul demanded the seizure of the ship and the arrest of its crew, however the Governor of Victoria allowed the ship to carry out repairs and obtain stores. He did forbid the recruiting of Victorian citizens however some 40 did sign on and sailed with the ship. The whole business caused even more strain between Britain and the US, and led to the defences in Australian ports being strengthened.

After the war an international tribunal ordered Britain to pay reparations for allowing Confederate vessels to use its ports in Australia and overseas.

History Chick

There is indeed - in Manchester, at least, don't know about Liverpool. There's also one in Edinburgh.

Statue of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Square, Manchester | Revealing Histories

Albert Square, Manchester - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

American Civil War, Edinburgh's Civil War Memorial