Ch12 - Russia's Support of the Union During the American Civil War

Russia's Support of the Union During the American Civil WarThe sources highlight how Russia, under Czar Alexander II, played a crucial role in preventing the breakup of the United States during the Civil War. In 1863, with the war at a critical juncture, Russia dispatched its navy to the east and west coasts of the US, where they remained for seven months. This show of force was strategically timed to deter Britain and France from intervening militarily on behalf of the Confederacy.Czar Alexander II, in an 1879 interview, confirmed that he had threatened Britain and France with war if they recognized the Confederacy, stating that he acted out of love for Russia and the understanding that a fragmented America, with Britain in control of its industrial development, would pose a greater challenge to Russia.The sources suggest that Russia saw in the US a kindred spirit in opposing the British system of empire. The Czar particularly admired the "Hamiltonian system of economics," which had transformed the US into an industrial powerhouse. He believed that this system, with its focus on manufacturing and internal improvements, was the only one capable of effectively challenging British imperial power.The sources provide a number of examples illustrating the close ties between the US and Russia during this period, all centered around the "American System" of economics:Czar Nicholas I, Alexander II's predecessor, hired American engineer George Washington Whistler to oversee the construction of Russia's first large-scale railroad in 1842.Henry C. Carey, a leading proponent of Hamiltonian economics, had his works promoted in Russian universities in the 1860s.Sergei Witte, a prominent Russian reformer and admirer of the "American System," drew inspiration from American practices while reorganizing the Russian railway system.The successful completion of the Trans-Siberian Railway in 1905, a project championed by Witte and involving American expertise and materials, served as a testament to the enduring influence of the "American System" on Russia's development.The sources suggest that the shared opposition of Russia and the US to the British system of empire, combined with their mutual embrace of Hamiltonian economics, created a powerful bond between the two nations during the 19th century, a bond exemplified by Russia's crucial support for the Union during the American Civil War. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.