What was the goal of the Anaconda Plan, and what were its drawbacks?
1 Answer
The goal was to close off trade to the Confederacy which was depended on imports for the supplies to fight the Civil War.
Explanation:
The Anaconda plan was to squeeze the life out of the Confederacy.
The Southern states had little industry capable of producing rifles cannons and warships necessary to fight a "modern" war. The south needed to sale their cotton to European Powers in exchange for war materials. The Anaconda plan's goal was to close off both the export of cotton and the importation of war materials.
There were problems with the Anaconda plan. A naval blockade had to close off all the ports along the extensive southern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. The Union ships had to patrol a huge area of the ocean, in all weather all year long. This was of course impossible and war materials continued to flow into the south, however at a reduced rate.
The blockade became more effective with the conquest of southern ports such as Mobile and New Orleans.
The other problem was the importation of goods from Mexico across the Mississippi River. As long as the Confederacy had control of the Mississippi River the Anaconda plan was not complete. The conquest of Vicksburg sealed off the Mississippi River. No longer could guns bullets and gun powered be imported across the River.
Towards the end of the war the Anaconda plan was working as envisioned. The South was completely cut off from trade with the rest of the world.
