a) Diplomatic crisis with Britain

The Trent Affair, an international incident during the Civil War, involved a diplomatic crisis with Britain. In 1861, the Union navy captured two Confederate envoys aboard the British mail ship Trent. This action infuriated Britain, a neutral country, leading to a diplomatic standoff between the U.S. and Britain. The crisis was eventually resolved when President Lincoln released the envoys and averted the risk of British intervention in the Civil War. The Trent Affair highlighted the international dimensions of the Civil War and the delicate nature of diplomacy during the conflict.