USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Note: Vicksburg was the last major Confederate fortress on the Mississippi River, so its capture completed the Anaconda Plan, the second component of the Northern strategy.

Detailed explanation-2: -It began with a powerful move down the Mississippi River to dominate it and eventually split the Confederacy into two parts. The next step was blocking the coastline. The coast had strategic and financial importance for the Confederates.

Detailed explanation-3: -Union General Winfield Scott proposed a plan to achieve a Northern victory. It was called the “Anaconda Plan” as it would strangle the Confederacy by cutting it off from external markets and sources of material. It included blockading Southern coasts and securing control of the Mississippi River.

Detailed explanation-4: -The three main steps of the Anaconda Plan were 1) surround the Confederacy by sea and by land blockades, 2) take control of the Mississippi River to cut Confederate forces in two, and 3) ambush and surround the Confederacy and their capital.

Detailed explanation-5: -The 47-day Siege of Vicksburg eventually gave control of the Mississippi River-a critical supply line-to the Union, and was part of the Union’s successful Anaconda Plan to cut off all trade to the Confederacy.