Why did the british expect to win battles in the south?

Answer 1

Britain relied on the South for cotton imports and the South imported British finished goods.
They rebelled for far less taxation then most of America has today. They were veterans of a war against taxation and now felt they were being over taxed.

Answer 2

Britain was economically dependent on Southern cotton.

Answer 3

The South could have won the civil war in many ways and at various points, even late into the war.

Answer 4

many soupporters lived there.