The blockade essentially stopped the South's very lucrative overseas trade. The sale of cotton was a huge source of revenue to the South. Further it shut down the importation of arms, ammunition and other supplies sorely needed by the Southern effort.
economics
The fish hook
Serious shortage of war supplies of every kind on the Confederate side, and repeated efforts to recruit foreign allies to break the blockade.
Anaconda Plan
The Anaconda Plan
I have the same worksheet, I put down: If there wasn't a blockade, there would have been a good chance that the Con. States would've won, due to the export of there crops for the import of needed weapons to win the war. God Bless the Internet.... :)
economics
The most alarming confederate threat to the Union blockade was the ironclad Merrimack.
Lincoln ordered the blockade of all Confederate seaports in April 1861.
Semmes.
The Union navy was given the task of blockading almost 3,000 miles of Confederate coastlines. Many ports were involved and the Union needed to build almost a new navy to cover the Southern ports.
they weakened the blockade
5 out of 6 blockade runners were successful
With a 3,500 mile coastline
To hold cargo ship back to France
yes
To blockade the Confederate Ports, intercepting the blockade runners and hunt down the Confederate cruisers, which were trying to capture or sink the Union merchant ships, throughout the seas.