Lincoln, Seward, and US Foreign Relations in the Civil War Era

The Civil War was both a scourge and a source of change in many aspects of American society. From war to justice, from economics to international relations, the United States underwent a transformation during that era. Although not close at first, and often at odds, President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State William Henry Seward grew together in their relationship while guiding U.S. foreign policy. Lincoln, who had beaten Seward for the Republican Party’s 1860 presidential nomination, and Seward, an esteemed member of that party, became not only unlikely allies but formed a friendship