How Russia helped the North during the American Civil War.

Did you know that Russia played a key role in supporting the North in the American Civil War? The Russian Navy prevented the French and the British from getting involved to help out the South. Also, did you know that Russian Zar Alexander II was known as Alexander the Liberator? This is because he freed over 23,000,000 slaves in Russia! Years before President Lincoln... For decades the US and Russia we very friendly. What happen?