What was a major reason for the Union’s Anaconda Plan?

The Anaconda Plan was a strategic outline proposed by Union General Winfield Scott during the American Civil War, aiming to defeat the Confederacy through a combination of blockades and control of inland waterways. The major reason behind this plan was indeed to cut off supplies and resources to the South. By blockading Southern ports, the Union sought to prevent the Confederacy from receiving goods, arms, and provisions from abroad. This would weaken the Southern economy and diminish their ability to sustain the war effort, effectively "squeezing" the Confederacy until it surrendered.

The focus of the Anaconda Plan was primarily on attrition and economic pressure rather than territorial gains or immediate military victories. This strategic choice stemmed from an understanding that a prolonged conflict would favor the Union's greater resources and manpower. Directly invading the Confederate capital or gaining immediate territory were secondary aspects of the overall plan, as the ultimate goal was to undermine the Confederacy's ability to maintain its war efforts through a sustained blockade and strategic maneuvering within its territory. Foreign diplomacy, while important, was not the central focus of this military strategy.