history repeats itself after 150 years

There was an article in this month's Smithsonian (actually a book review) that had some info I had no idea about.  At the start of the U.S. (1861 for those of you who have forgotten 6th grade history) Civil War, England almost came in on the side of the south.  Their two main reasons sound very familiar today.  For one, the south produced 80% of the cotton used in England's mills.  They needed to protect that supply.  And if they came in on the side of the south, the good feelings would rub off into commerce.  Sound familiar with the U.S. and the Arab Spring re: oil??


Another reason was that a united North and South would be a much stronger rival to England than two separate countries.  Geopolitics led them to see a benefit in the South successfully seceding.  Also sound familiar with the U.S. and Middle East/North Africa? 

Apparently, Lincoln's Secretary of State William Steward subtly threatened a world war if England got involved.  Luckily, he was successful.  Otherwise . . . . . . who knows?