Question
5. How did the Union army look to defeat the Confederacy by water? Provide 2 methods.
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Answers
GPT-4o mini
The Union army aimed to defeat the Confederacy by utilizing naval strategies and control of waterways. Here are two key methods they employed:
a. **Blockade of Southern Ports**: The Union implemented a naval blockade to cut off the Confederacy's access to international trade and supplies. This "Anaconda Plan" aimed to suffocate the Southern economy by preventing the export of cotton and the import of necessary goods, thereby weakening the Confederate war effort over time.
b. **Control of Rivers and Key Waterways**: The Union sought to gain control of major rivers such as the Mississippi River, which was crucial for transportation and supply lines. This included campaigns like the capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in Tennessee, as well as the siege of Vicksburg. Controlling these waterways allowed Union forces to transport troops and supplies efficiently, encircle Confederate forces, and split the Confederacy geographically.
a. **Blockade of Southern Ports**: The Union implemented a naval blockade to cut off the Confederacy's access to international trade and supplies. This "Anaconda Plan" aimed to suffocate the Southern economy by preventing the export of cotton and the import of necessary goods, thereby weakening the Confederate war effort over time.
b. **Control of Rivers and Key Waterways**: The Union sought to gain control of major rivers such as the Mississippi River, which was crucial for transportation and supply lines. This included campaigns like the capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in Tennessee, as well as the siege of Vicksburg. Controlling these waterways allowed Union forces to transport troops and supplies efficiently, encircle Confederate forces, and split the Confederacy geographically.