---
title: "Alabama Claims arbitration — Definition & Meaning"
description: "The Alabama Claims arbitration was a 1871-1872 tribunal resolving US claims against Britain for Confederate warships, shaping international arbitration law."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/alabama-claims-arbitration"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Alabama Claims arbitration was the 1871–1872 international tribunal that settled United States damage claims against Britain for Confederate warships built in British shipyards during the American Civil War.
- What were the three rules of Washington?
- Who were the arbitrators and what was the outcome?
- Why is the Alabama Claims arbitration important in international law?
- How does it connect to modern dispute-settlement mechanisms?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The Alabama Claims arbitration was the 1871–1872 international tribunal that settled United States damage claims against Britain for Confederate warships built in British shipyards during the American Civil War.

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## Timeline

1. 8 May 1871

   The Alabama Claims arbitration denotes the landmark international dispute settlement conducted at Geneva between 1871 and 1872 under the Treaty of Washington…

2. 14 September 1872

   On the tribunal, by a majority of four to one (Cockburn dissenting), held that Britain had failed to exercise due diligence and awarded the United States US…

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Example

In its award of 14 September 1872, the Geneva tribunal ordered Great Britain to pay the United States US$15.5 million in gold for damage caused by the British-built Confederate raider CSS Alabama.

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