Date of Award

Fall 1997

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

Committee Director

Harold Wilson

Committee Member

Lorraine M. Lees

Committee Member

Craig M. Cameron

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.H47 P527

Abstract

Although unintentional, no single individual had a larger, if not unrecognized, effect on American interpretation of international law and neutral rights in the later half of the nineteenth century than Charles Wilkes. During his command of the West India "Flying" Squadron, Wilkes used his own form of "gunboat diplomacy," contrary to the established American policy on maritime commerce and warfare, to disrupt Confederate commerce raiding, blockade running, and neutral support. These efforts created depredations on the rights of neutrals, primarily the British, that met with the tacit approval of his superiors. This was primarily due to the unwillingness of the British government to enforce their own neutrality laws. Wilkes aided the northern war effort through his enthusiastic interpretation of neutral rights and through the resultant aberration of American policy, set the precedent for numerous British violations of neutral rights prior to the entry of the United States in World War I. This study is based on primary source material.

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In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/t871-ew62

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