What was the outcome for the captured diplomats during the Trent Affair?

The outcome of the Trent Affair involved the release of the captured diplomats, which is why this choice is correct. The Trent Affair occurred in late 1861 when the Union Navy intercepted the British mail ship, the Trent, and captured two Confederate envoys, James Mason and John Slidell, who were seeking to gain support for the Confederacy from Britain and France.

The capture of these diplomats created a significant diplomatic crisis between the United States and Great Britain. British public opinion strongly favored the release of the envoys, and the British government demanded their return. Ultimately, President Abraham Lincoln, seeking to avoid escalating tensions with Britain into a potential conflict, ordered their release. Lincoln recognized the need to maintain good relations with a foreign power that was crucial to the Union war effort and complied with British demands, which led to the return of Mason and Slidell to British authorities.

This decision helped to avert a potential conflict, highlighting Lincoln's strategic diplomatic approach during a tumultuous time in American history, and underscored the complexities of international relations during the Civil War.