Cotton is King!

1861-1865

John Bull kneeling, on an American slave, before a bale of cotton dressed as a king. The caption "Cotton is King!" appears above the image and the lyrics "Old England is mighty; Old England is free, she boasts that she ruleth the waves of the sea ; (but between you and I, that's all fiddle-de-dee;) She cannot, O Cotton! She cannot rule thee. Lo! Manchesters lordling thy greatness shall own, And yield more to thee than he would to the Throne: For before thee shall bend his fat marrow-bone,And dead be his ear to the live chattels groan."

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
John Bull (Symbolic character)

United States

John Bull, is a figurative representation of England (pictured here with a 'Manchester' ticket sticking out of his pocket). The image derides England's appetite for cotton ('Cotton is King') and the willingness of many Britons to ignore the human costs of slavery associated with cotton production. Many Northerners were particularly suspicious of Britain's motives during the Civil War, particularly due to the presence of British blockade runners. Many feared that it would award recognition to the Confederacy as a sovereign nation.

eng

3"x5.5"

still image

Printed envelope, 3 x 5.5 inches, Alfred S. Lippman Collection of Civil War postal covers, Manuscripts Collection 993, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana

Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. Louisiana Research Collection.

Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

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