Jim Rhetta on “Would England Have Recognized the South?”

A common belief among Civil War historians is that England was frequently inclined toward diplomatic recognition of the Confederacy. This belief is supported by the view that a shortage of cotton nearly drove England to recognize the South to secure cotton supplies for economic stability and employment in the cotton industry. However, the key missing requirement for diplomatic recognition was a decisive Confederate battlefield victory to convince England that the Confederacy was a militarily viable nation.

Closer evaluations of this issue are often lacking in U.S. publications, with familiar beliefs repeated across generations of readers. This presentation will examine British decision-makers, influencers, foreign policy, and political processes to uncover the truth about England’s intentions regarding recognition of the Confederacy.

Jim Rhetta retired from Lockheed Corporation and also retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, serving in the Intelligence Community. In both careers, he monitored, analyzed, and reported on global conflicts and crises for the Department of Defense. His roles required him to write and present daily intelligence briefings, threat assessments, and weekly activity reports. He authored classified books on foreign air defense threats and orders of battle. He continues to monitor current events and historical subjects for their impact on society today.