William H. Seward had earlier entertained war with Britain as a way to reunify the country. He believed Confederate secessionists might rally to the United States against a foreign enemy. The seizure of the envoys initially produced a proud and belligerent Union response. Once Britain might actually enter the war, Seward rapidly reversed course. The idea looked very different when it threatened to add a second war to the first.
Notable Point · 12:19-12:58
Seward reverses the reunification gamble
Seward had imagined that war with Britain might reunify North and South, but the Trent crisis forces a rapid reversal.