What strategy did the North employ to starve the South during the Civil War?

The Anaconda Plan was the strategic approach devised by Union General Winfield Scott during the Civil War to suffocate the South economically and militarily. This plan aimed to encircle the Confederacy by blockading Southern ports and gaining control of the Mississippi River, effectively cutting off trade and supplies that the South relied on.

By implementing this strategy, the North sought to prevent the Confederacy from receiving essential goods, including food and supplies, which were crucial for sustaining its troops and economy. The plan's goal was to gradually squeeze the Southern states, leading to their eventual surrender. This multifaceted approach not only focused on military engagement but also on economic strangulation, which was vital for the permanence of the Union's victories and the long-term success of the war effort against the Confederacy.

In contrast, cotton diplomacy refers to the South’s attempt to leverage its cotton exports to gain support from foreign nations, particularly Britain and France, during the war. While a blockade strategy is part of the Anaconda Plan, it is more accurately described as one component of a broader strategy. The March to the Sea, conducted by General Sherman, was more focused on psychological warfare and destruction rather than a comprehensive strategy to starve the South.