The Anaconda Plan

So, the nation has split apart, I suppose it would be important to know what each side wanted and how they were going to do it.

The North's goal was simple; save the Union.



The South wanted to be left alone and the North to deal with the fact that they had slavery. They felt states rights were very important.


Both sides figured the war could only last about 3 months, they were very wrong.

The North seemed to have the upper hand in this. They had a bigger population and had 85% of the countries factories.





A northern general, Winfield Scott, came up with a plan to defeat the South. It would take these steps....

1. The Union Navy would blockade the South's Ports.



This would keep the South from importing needed supplies and exporting cotton to make money.

2. Capture the Mighty Mississippi to split the Confederacy in half.

3. Apply pressure until they can't take it any more and cry like small children and give up.



This plan was known as the Anaconda Plan *HISS*.

It was called this because the Anaconda is a giant snake that will squeeze the life out of you. Seriously, check out the Discovery Channel sometime.

This plan was set aside though, people wanted a short war, and all those steps would take time. They figured the best way to go about it was to capture the capital of the Confederacy, Richmond, Virginia.