United States History A 2:4 Strategies and Capabilities

Anaconda Plan

Union military strategy to blockade the South and capture the Mississippi River, effectively "squeezing" the Confederacy.

Naval Blockade

A Union tactic to prevent Confederate trade with Europe by controlling southern ports.

Mississippi River

Vital river targeted by the Union to divide the Confederacy and disrupt transport and supply lines.

Attrition

Confederate strategy of wearing down the Union forces over time rather than winning through direct conquest.

Southern Geography

Gave the Confederacy the advantage of knowing the land and having local civilian support.

Union Industrial Strength

The North’s economic advantage with factories, railroads, and a diversified economy.

Military Leadership

Both sides had officers trained at West Point, though Confederate officers were often seen as more experienced early on.