What was the overarching goal of the Anaconda Plan during the Civil War?

The overarching goal of the Anaconda Plan was to economically strangle the South. This strategy, proposed by General Winfield Scott, aimed to suffocate the Confederacy's resources and ability to sustain war efforts. The plan envisioned a blockade of Southern ports to hinder trade and supply lines, thereby preventing the export of cotton and the import of war materials and resources needed for the Confederacy to continue fighting.

In addition to the naval blockade, the Anaconda Plan also included the control of the Mississippi River, which would divide the Confederacy and further limit its logistical capabilities. By constricting economic resources and trade, the Union hoped to weaken the South's resolve and capacity to wage war, leading to a quicker resolution of the conflict. The strategy relied on patience and attrition rather than seeking an immediate and decisive military victory, which is why it emphasized economic strangulation as a key element of warfare.