Nomination of William H. Seward as Secretary of State
3/5/1861
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William H. Seward was appointed by President Lincoln to the position of the Secretary of State on March 5, 1861. Once the Civil War broke out in 1861, American diplomats who represented both the North and the South struggled to establish and maintain favorable international relations in order to help ensure victory.
William Seward worked diligently throughout the war to ensure that no foreign nation intervened in the conflict on the behalf of the Confederacy. Not only did he oversee and instruct the numerous diplomats who represented the Union abroad, but he also hosted foreign diplomats at home and endeavored to win their favor and support. Seward and his diplomats’ hard work paid off as foreign nations remained neutral throughout the war, a factor that was crucial in securing victory for the North.
William Seward worked diligently throughout the war to ensure that no foreign nation intervened in the conflict on the behalf of the Confederacy. Not only did he oversee and instruct the numerous diplomats who represented the Union abroad, but he also hosted foreign diplomats at home and endeavored to win their favor and support. Seward and his diplomats’ hard work paid off as foreign nations remained neutral throughout the war, a factor that was crucial in securing victory for the North.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Senate.
National Archives Identifier: 595432
Full Citation: Nomination of William H. Seward as Secretary of State; 3/5/1861; Records of the U.S. Senate, Record Group 46. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/nomination-of-william-h-seward-as-secretary-of-state, April 20, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.