Americ-Russo Alliance timeline

Well i've been lurking here for a while and i decided to have a crack at actually writing an alternate history. I've tried to do it in a history book style similar to Wilcox's excellent Union and Liberty timeline. Please don't be to hard on my writing ill get better promise:eek:

The Alliance
In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln met with Tsar Alexander the Second. The meeting was an attempt to do three things sort out spheres of influence in the Pacific, negotiate the possible purchase of Alaska and formalize an American and Russian alliance so as to drive Britain and France away from the Confederacy. While the first and second counts were muddled in so much as the United States expressed interest in purchasing the land that would become the state of Sitka [1] but refused to commit any sum of money to it and other than reaffirming both sides’ claims the right to expand into the Pacific nothing was sorted. However it was the third plan for a formal alliance between the two nations that would be further developed. Drafted by Secretary of State Seward and Prince Gortchakoff the document outlined a plan where the United States would give Russia economic aid in the way of setting up factories and building railroads and assisting with various other parts of Tsar Alexander’s pet industrialization projects after the war was over. In exchange Russia would provide a guarantee that it would intervene on the Unions side if Britain or France were ever recognize the Confederacy and that the Russian fleet in New York would participate in the blockade of southern ports for a minimum of three months with a clause for the possible extension if both ambassadors agreed to it. This alliance would form the basis for Russo-Americo relations in the coming decades, America’s economic help in exchange for a strong European ally.

[1] OTL Alaska as you might have guessed
 
Wouldn't the use of the Russian squadron negate the Lincoln's assertation that the secession of the Southern states is a domestic rebellion? Since the North is clearly asking for foreign aide in supporting the blockade why wouldn't the French and British consider it in their interest to recognize the Confederacy?

This sort of stuff makes things harder on Lincoln to properly exclude foreign involvement in American domestic affairs.
 
Wouldn't accepting Russian aid ensure that the British and French would recognize the confederacy? I mean, the Russian Fleets were wintering in American Waters because they wanted to threaten British interests in the first place. Lincoln saying yes to the Russians practically endorses that the British and French are going to react.
 
This is an interesting concept and I'm looking forward to seeing where you take it.

Assuming the Russians did start participating in the blockade, I don't see that as doing much expect make the Brits and French mad. By 1863, there was no real fear of either nation recognizing the CSA or providing official assistance in armaments and supplies (smuggling of course, but nothing sanctioned). Napoleon III wouldn't do such a thing without the British going first, and after the Emancipation Proclamation it would have taken significant victories by the Confederate forces, like taking Washington and New Orleans, for the British to risk coming to the aid of a slave power. The higher-ups may have ignored that fact, but abolitionism was much stronger in the UK than it was in the USA.

Perhaps the use of the Russian fleet isn't the best way to go, but maybe a pledge to allow their use if the British and French try to intercede.
 
Thanks for the kind words. In regards to the Russian fleet the main reason the Russians sent it on it's good will visit was not to help Uncle Sam though that was a bonus it was to keep it out of Russian ports. This was because they thought that there may be a war over issues in Poland and as they seen in Crimea fleets trapped in ports by enemy ships are of no use to anyone. However you can only extend a diplomatic visit for so long so there going to be participating in blockade duty for the time Russia thinks it will take for either war to start or it to all blow over ie. three months. As for whether this legitimises the Confederacy Lincoln being the lawyer he was makes sure that the Russians are not blockading enemy ports but rather guarding against smuggling, everyone knows this is BS but that's the official line. im going to have an update on Britain France and the Polish question tommorrow.
 
I think there would just be an escalation of naval powers along the Atlantic seaboard. The British would increase their naval presence to keep an eye on the Russians once it becomes apparent that they are now operating out of Union ports. If the Russians interdict any smuggers they are assisting in enforcing the blockade. The Rebellion is no longer a domestic rebellion and Lincoln has admitted that the US does not have the strength, alone, to win the war.
 
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