What was Europe’s perspective of the American Civil war? More particularly, were any European powers paying extra attention to the US during the war with the hopes of maybe grabbing some land during the aftermath? I would venture to guess that (some) European powers hoped that the economy and manpower of the states would have been decimated to such a degree that an invasion and annexation would be relatively possible. What factors countered this kind of thinking? Also, had any European picked sides (north vs south)? If so, why? (I realize the sub question regarding “side-picking” is quite the question in itself, but I figured it might inform my main question regarding European interests in the war itself).