President Andrew Johnson's proclamation, issued shortly after the end of the Civil War, marked a decisive moment in the relationship between the United States and the international community regarding the status of the defeated Confederate States. In his statement, Johnson declared that the once-recognized belligerent rights of the Confederacy were now null and void due to their rebellion against the Union. This legal shift had implications for foreign trade and naval operations, as it instructed foreign nations to treat Confederate ships as either enemy vessels or individuals seeking unlawful trade. The proclamation was an attempt to reassert the United States' sovereignty and discourage any foreign support or recognition of Confederate aspirations. Johnson's message was particularly aimed at the nations of Europe, who had at times considered intervention or support for the Confederacy primarily due to economic interests tied to cotton production.

The proclamation further solidified the idea that the Union had prevailed, thus ensuring that the Confederacy would no longer be seen as an entity deserving of diplomatic treatment or normal military rights. The ramifications of Johnson’s directives also pointed to a larger theme in post-war America: the reconciliation of the North and South and the establishment of an integrated national identity. The abandonment of belligerent rights not only affected the military strategies of remaining Confederate ships but also carefully maneuvered the United States’ relations with significant global players, particularly Britain and France, who had shown interest in the outcome of the Civil War. It signaled a clear warning against any support for remnants of the Confederacy, thereby aiding in the broader goals of Reconstruction.