this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2026
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History Memes

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[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 31 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

Explanation: During the US Civil War, the pro-slavery Confederacy repeatedly attempted to get European countries, like Britain and France, to recognize and support them. For a brief period of time, the British government even considered intervening in the war - getting one over on the Americans and getting cheap cotton? What's not to love?

... but the British public, including the electorate, was staunchly abolitionist by this time, and abhorred the thought of supporting a rebellion to prolong slavery in any way, shape, or form. For this reason, the British government had to tread lightly with its 'foreign policy interests', lest the next election be a massacre, leaving the Confederacy isolated and alone until its ignominious and much-deserved death four years later.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 29 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

It's worth noting the British PM at the time was also staunchly abolitionist, he just really hated America.

[–] Mim@lemmy.zip 5 points 16 hours ago
[–] RickyRigatoni@piefed.zip 7 points 19 hours ago

Living rent free since 1776 lmao

[–] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 18 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

It's also a big reason that Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation. It forced the optics of anyone helping the south to appear as pro slavery.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 10 points 13 hours ago (2 children)
[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 7 points 12 hours ago

tbf, one side being pro-slavery doesn't make the other anti-slavery - making the Union nominally anti-slavery was a huge PR boost, even if it was initially controversial amongst voters. And it's a lot harder to go against an anti-slavery polity fighting a pro-slavery polity, than a pro-slavery polity against a more pro-slavery polity.

[–] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 6 points 13 hours ago

People have never and never will read the docs.