American Civil War becomes a world war?

While Russia did have surprisingly close ties with America during this time period (tragic in hindsight really), im wondering would they really be interested in a war that would be primarily naval? I believe the Aland Islands were still demilitarized during the ACW and the Black Sea Fleet still... didnt exist. A land war maybe in which case they actually have the capabilities to threaten their enemies, but assisting America would be primarily a naval affair with ground actions being limited to defending themselves from British and French attacks. It would be a rather limited war for Russia that hurts them but where they cant actually contribute.

For what its worth though, Russia had already decided to station several naval squadrons in San Fransisco and New York for the duration of the ACW. Just in case.
 
Britain is run by Lord Palmerston, who hates slavery with the passion of one thousand suns. He's not going to lift a finger for the rebels, especially if he's risking Canada.

Prussia is focused on establishing a German state, I can't see why they'd go off on an adventure in America.

WI France joins the war on the side of the Confederacy, but then Texas is threatened by French escalation in Mexico and they secede from the Confederacy?
 
Without some major POD, the British are unlikely to get involved.

This is the key point, the British will never support the CSA.

However, surely you can have more than 1 war taking place at once?

Without supporting the CSA (at least openly), the British could fight a war on their own terms (possibly with French allies striking from Mexico?) So the CSA is still likely to fold and lose (from what I've read here, the CSA was all but doomed from the start, lack of general global support and arms), but Britain gets some nice concessions from the Union during its crisis point. A weaker USA then has knock on effects down the road.
 
Britain is run by Lord Palmerston, who hates slavery with the passion of one thousand suns. He's not going to lift a finger for the rebels, especially if he's risking Canada.

Prussia is focused on establishing a German state, I can't see why they'd go off on an adventure in America.

WI France joins the war on the side of the Confederacy, but then Texas is threatened by French escalation in Mexico and they secede from the Confederacy?

The great obstacle for the French intervention is the British (Palmerstones) unwillingness to do anything. Nappy wouldn't do a thing without the British. IIRC, and I recently read this chapter in excellent 'Battle Cry of Freedom', CSA tried to entice the Emperor to join the war offering help in Mexico, but he didn't bite.

Also, CSA was not really popular among the British, except with some of the aristocrats. Working class sympathies mainly lay with the USA. There was some support for recognition in the House of Commons, but that would be it and wouldn't really help CSA.

Perhaps if Antietam/Sharpsburg goes the other way...
 
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