By the end of 1860, the total population of the United States had reached 31.6 million. The Northern free states had a population of about 18.7 million, while the Southern slave states had a population of 12.9 million, of which 5 million were slaves.
Franzs butterfly effect still played a role, and there had been a slight change in the balance of power between the North and the South, but it couldnt change the fact that the North was stronger than the South.
In the Austrian Embassy in Washington, representatives from Britain, France, Austria, and Spain gathered together. The Austrian ambassador to the United States, Drucker, was the first to speak: The reason weve gathered today is primarily to discuss the issue of Southern independence. In such a critical juncture, we need to remain united to better safeguard our interests.
Its unclear when everyone realized the benefits of the principle of unity among the great powers. Typically, whenever they acted in unison, everyone could reap substantial rewards.
The group paused, weighing whether joint action would yield greater benefits or if acting alone would be more profitable.
Whether or not to abolish slavery was simply not on the table. No matter how loudly the European countries shouted for the abolition of slavery, in reality, everyone just wanted to watch the show.
In recent years, Arica has been expanding like a balloon, which has caused many people to worry. The Arican threat theory has also beco a hot topic in Europe.
To attract immigrants, the propaganda put out by the Aricans, under the guidance of those with ulterior motives, has all beco evidence of the Arican threat.
Due to crude communication thods, the negative impact on public opinion has left the Arican governnt powerless. Several attempts to influence public opinion have backfired, leaving them in a sorry state.
British representative Mark Oliver spoke up: All four of our nations have significant trade relations with the United States. A stable Arica is more in line with our interests. By intervening together to prevent the outbreak of civil war in the United States, it will be beneficial for global peace and stability.
The British stance was not surprising. The British Empire depended on cheap industrial raw materials provided by the Aricans, especially cotton.
Not only the British, but also the three nations of France, Austria, and Spain were major cotton importers. Even with a bumper crop of cotton in West Africa, Austria is barely self-sufficient.
The Spanish representative Francisco added: To maintain world peace, a divided Arica is necessary. From 1783 to the present, the territory of the United States has expanded from 800,000 square kiloters to nearly 8 million square kiloters. If they are not contained, it wont be long before they gradually take over the entire Arican continent.
We are all aware of the potential for developnt in the United States. At their current rate of progress, they will catch up with Europe in less than fifty years, and then surpass us with their vast size.
It should be noted that the total area of our four countries combined is less than one-third that of the United States. They have almost all the resources they need, and there is little we can do to restrict them. Now is the only opportunity; if Arica resolves its internal issues, the future world hegemon is already determined.
Franciscos argunt was almost a verbatim copy of the Arican threat theory. With the developnt of the United States in recent years and their constant foreign expansion, Spain was the biggest victim.
Especially as Aricans have extended their hand into Cuba, attempting to seize another colonial territory from Spain, it has further fueled Spanish resentnt.
While Aricas expansionist movent had little effect on Austria, Britain and France suffered losses. The French were forced to sell the Louisiana territory, while the British lost even more territory.
The French representative Alfredo mocked, Isnt this too alarmist? Could Arica really beco the world hegemon?
Drucker, the Austrian representative, chuckled and said, Who knows? But its undeniable that in recent years the pace of Arican developnt has been remarkable. They are constantly sucking the blood out of Europe.
Havent we all wanted to send immigrants to the colonies, only to have them poached by the Aricans? Tens of thousands of Europeans immigrate to the United States every year. Everyone should be aware of what this ans!
If the Union succeeds, it will possess the richest resources in the world, the cheapest industrial raw materials, and abundant labor. They will quickly complete their industrialization.
We will have another competitor in the commodities market. Perhaps before long, Arican-made goods will perate the Arican continent.
Capital knows no borders. Perhaps many capitalists are already thinking of moving to Arica. If these people also move there, our technological superiority will cease to exist.
It should be known that they have also cornered our industrial raw materials such as cotton.
Even if we find new sources of raw materials, it will be hard to compete with Arica in terms of production costs. Its only logical for capitalists to build factories in Arica.
Druckers words were full of aning. Everyone present was part of their respective ruling classes, vested interests who didnt want to see their own countrys interests hard.
Mark Olivers face changed greatly. He could guarantee that if he did nothing this ti, he would face retaliation from dostic capitalists when he returned ho.
Capitalists immigrating to Arica? This was actually the privilege of major capitalists and financial conglorates. For small and dium-sized capitalists to move to an unfamiliar place, theyd be lucky not to be completely swallowed up by others.
It was true that capital knows no borders, but that would only be realized once order was established and everyone beca mindful of their appearances.
Druckers purpose was still to remind everyone to sit up straight and not be swayed by the Northern governnts money, or their political stance would lean toward the Aricans.
Having cald down, Mark Oliver smiled and said, Indeed, Arica is too powerful. Its better to weaken them a bit. I rember the Declaration of Independence granting the right of secession to the federal states. Since now seven Southern states have already seceded, lets acknowledge their status!
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This was a fatal blow. Once European countries recognized the independent status of the Southern governnt, the Civil War would no longer be an internal conflict in Arica but a war between two independent countries.
Politically, its undoubtedly a devastating blow to the Northern governnt. Once the legitimacy of the Southern governnt is established, it will be easier for countries to find excuses to intervene in this war in the future.
If everyone is willing, as long as the Southern governnt sends out an invitation, everyone can intervene militarily to diate.
The Unions plan to manufacture public pressure through the abolition of slavery and cut off European support for the Confederacy would fail right from the start.
The British decision also involves the issue of Canada. The continuous expansion of the United States has long been resented by the British. After the War of Independence, conflicts between Britain and Arica did not cease.
In 1812, forr President Jefferson boasted, This year, Canada will be annexed... and ultimately British influence will be completely expelled from the Arican continent!
Soon the Aricans attacked Canada in an attempt to dominate the mainland Aricas alone.
John Bull, enraged, imdiately took military action to make the Aricans feel the iron fist of the British Empire. The Aricans were badly beaten on the battlefield, and even the White House was set on fire.
Ti was the best weapon. Gradually, the terror of the British was forgotten by the Aricans. In 1844, the campaign slogan of the 11th president, Jas K. Polk, was: (Britain) must give up Oregon or face war!
By this ti, the United States was no longer weak and easy to defeat.
At that ti, after weighing the pros and cons, the British governnt backed down and relinquished the Oregon territory. However, this left a lingering sense of resentnt.
Resentnt could be suppressed, but the threat posed by the United States was felt by the British. However, the capitalists, for their own interests, exerted influence on Congress, reconciling the Anglo-Arican conflicts.
No matter how it was said, grievances were written down. After discovering the anti-Arican stance of Austria and Spain, Mark Oliver imdiately decided to deal a heavy blow to the Aricans.
French representative Alfredo opposed, saying, Directly intervening in Arican internal affairs might not be wise. European public opinion overwhelmingly supports the abolition of slavery, and such actions could easily cause us trouble.
Interests determine position. The French had very little interest left in North Arica, so naturally they would not mind Aricas rise. After all, the British would bear the brunt of Aricas rise.
The Austrian representative Drucker gave a righteous explanation: This is just a minor issue. The Southern governnt can also abolish slavery. Currently, theyre protecting the rights to private property, which is sacrosanct and inviolable.
Withdrawing from the United States is also entirely legal. Theres no provision in the US Constitution prohibiting states from seceding. We must uphold the spirit of contracts!
In essence, the main cause of the North-South conflict is still the tariff issue. The Northern governnts proposal to raise tariffs has seriously undermined the principle of fair trade!
Trade fairness was rely a facade, but the harm to everyones interests was real. Once the Aricans raise tariffs, not only do they lose access to cheap sources of raw materials, but they also lose a market for their goods.
Even the French, who supported the Aricans in causing trouble for the British, had to admit that the actions of the Northern governnt damaged their interests.
That is why there have been frequent policy changes within the French governnt on the issue of the United States. Often, they didnt even know what was the right thing to do.
French representative Alfredo asked in disbelief, Are you serious? Youre not joking, are you? The Southern governnt is going to abolish slavery?!
After the propaganda of the Northern governnt, in the eyes of many people, the Confederacy was simply evil slave traders. Werent the plantation owners making profits by exploiting slaves? How could they possibly give up their source of wealth?
Drucker confidently replied, Nothing is impossible. Plantation owners can also learn from the capitalists business model. In this world, there are plenty of unscrupulous capitalists who pay minimal wages, or even no wages at all, right?
On the surface, the slaves are indeed given free status, but in reality, the wages they are paid are barely enough for these people to survive.
If they get old or sick, they will still be driven out to fend for themselves. Would the cost really increase after rely changing the employnt thod?
What plantation owners are worried about is that after the slaves obtain free status, these people will leave. This problem can be solved by employnt contracts.
What Drucker was talking about was the social reality of the ti. The sa thing was happening all over Europe. On the surface, serfdom was abolished by everyone, but in reality, the living conditions of those at the bottom of society didnt improve much.
On the surface, after they were turned into workers, they earned wages and their standard of living rose. But in reality, it was due to the increase in workload.
In tis of economic crisis, one could easily beco unemployed. If a worker fell ill and couldnt afford treatnt, it often led to financial ruin and had no safety net whatsoever.
Mark Oliver agreed: Indeed, from a cost perspective, changing the employnt model can be a viable option. With so many labor-exporting companies in the United States, plantation owners will never lack labor.
As leaders of the civilized world, we have a duty to help the Southern governnt gradually abolish the evil system of slavery and join the global civilized community.
Once the issue of slavery was addressed, the French representative no longer objected. Whether or not the Southern governnt abolished slavery was not important; they simply had to make a gesture indicating their intention to do so.
The Spanish representative proposed, To abolish the evil institution of slavery sooner rather than later, and for the sake of world peace and stability, we must now persuade more slave states to join the Southern governnt.
Even though the true intention was to balance the power between the North and the South, it sounded noble and righteous when spoken by politicians.
As for whether the Southern governnt would accept everyones goodwill, there was no need to consider it; they had to accept it.
It was just a political gesture, there was no imdiate action required. rely putting on a show could gain them recognition from the international community. Who would have the courage to refuse?
The French representative Alfredo said, This is an excellent proposal. France is willing to help these slaves obtain freedom.
On February 11, 1861, despite the opposition from the Northern governnt, the four nations of Britain, France, Austria, and Spain jointly issued a diplomatic statent recognizing the independence of the Southern governnt and establishing formal diplomatic relations.
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