1. The Union The Confederacy
At the beginning of the war:
Europeans were more likely to side with the Confederacy because of cotton. They didn’t like slavery, but especially sided with the South after the Trent Affair.
As the war went on:
It looked more and more like the Confederacy could win or at least remain a separate country. European powers were willing to accept this and thought about negotiating peace.
The Emancipation Proclamation:
Lincoln’s Proclamation made the war about slavery. This made European powers side more with the North because of their general hatred of slavery.
By the end of the war:
With the North winning anyway, European powers supported them more and made sure to be on the winning side at the end.
The Main Idea:
Both the North and the South wanted international allies for supplies, support for their cause and an advantage over their opponent. The Europeans supported whichever side gave them more economically and had the best chance of winning

2. The Union The Confederacy
At the beginning of the war:
Europeans were more likely to side with the Confederacy because of cotton. They didn’t like slavery, but especially sided with the South after the Trent Affair.
As the war went on:
It looked more and more like the Confederacy could win or at least remain a separate country. European powers were willing to accept this and thought about negotiating peace.
The Emancipation Proclamation:
Lincoln’s Proclamation made the war about slavery. This made European powers side more with the North because of their general hatred of slavery.
By the end of the war:
With the North winning anyway, European powers supported them more and made sure to be on the winning side at the end.
The Main Idea:
Both the North and the South wanted international allies for supplies, support for their cause and an advantage over their opponent. The Europeans supported whichever side gave them more economically and had the best chance of winning