Journey Through Time 34. Cotton Will Bring The World To its Knees: The Craziest Gamble in History (Ep 3)
Oct 1, 2025
Discover why the Confederate States believed cutting off cotton supplies would secure British support during the Civil War. Learn about the unique humanitarian efforts in Lancashire to help starving mill workers and how British stockpiling strategies changed the landscape. Delve into the political debates and relief efforts that influenced public opinion, as well as the role Liverpool played in supporting the Confederacy. Uncover dramatic naval encounters involving British-built raiders and how they sparked tensions between the US and Britain.
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The Cotton Is King Delusion
- The Confederacy bet cotton would coerce Britain into recognition and intervention.
- That strategy ignored blockades and global cotton diversification, making it a delusion.
Blockade, Not Boycott, Crippled Cotton Supply
- The Union blockade, not the South, largely cut off cotton to Britain and caused the Lancashire crisis.
- Blockade effectiveness rose over time, reducing cotton imports to about 4% of pre-war levels.
Britain Had Diversified Cotton Sources
- British merchants had stocked cotton and diversified production long before the war.
- Investments in Egypt, India, Brazil and elsewhere reduced reliance on Southern cotton.
