What were the military strategies in the US Civil War?

Answer 1

Northern strategies to end the South's rebellion were to:

1. gain control of the Mississippi river, this they did but did not decide the outcome of the war;

2. blockade the passage of trade goods, supplies, and arms to and from the Confederacy. Historians do not believe it affected the outcome of the war as the blockades were not effective due to many factors, such as sailing under the cover of darkness;

3. Capture the Southern capital of Richmond, this was done late in the war, when the war was already won , for all practical purposes; and

4. Use the strategy and tactics of "exhaustion" making the use of whatever armies the South had left to force a surrender.

Answer 2

The Union's strategy to win the Civil War changed as the war went on. Basically, Union strategy went through three phases:

1. 1861-62 - Union armies concentrated on seizing enemy territory.

2. 1863-64 - Union armies concentrated on destroying Confederate armies.

3. 1864-65 - Union armies concentrated on destroying Confederate infrastructure.

Winfield Scott's strategy, known as The Anaconda Plan, is what eventually won the war. Scott proposed the blockade of all Southern ports, followed by the capture of the Mississippi River, isolating the states east of the Mississippi from those West of the river, preventing reinforcement and resupply from Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, leading to the gradual starvation of Southern forces. Grant added to the plan by capturing the Cumberland and Tennessee River Valleys as well, and by sending Sherman on the famous March through Georgia, which further isolated the breadbasket states, preventing them from providing provisions for the troops fighting in Virginia. Scott and Grant understood that by removing the means by which the South could make war, the armies would become futile in the field.

Answer 3

The Union strategy was called The Anaconda Plan. It called for the blockade of southern ports and the Mississippi River, leading to the slow strangulation of its ability to economy. The South lacked a coordinated central strategy.

Answer 4

The Union strategy for ending the Confederate rebellion can be summarized as follows:* Blockade Southern forts hampering trade and prevent the shipment of arms and ammunition to Confederate armies. The Union wanted to curtail as much as possible, Southern cotton sales to Britain and France;

* Use military offensives against Confederate armies;

* Capture the Mississippi River. Holding the river and blockading Southern ports would strangle the Rebels. In so many words this was the key to victory that General in Chief Winfield Scott had recommended prior to the start of the US Civil War; and

* Under President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, granting the freedom of Southern slaves would create social unrest in the South and eventually make it possible for runaway slaves to join the US Military.

For the Confederacy, the primary strategy was a defensive one. Since the South did not need to "conquer" the North, a well executed defensive posture would force the North to simply give up the struggle. Also, well planned and executed raids into Union territory would weaken Northern morale and strengthen the Northern " Peace Groups" that wanted the war to end without necessarily defeating the Southern armies.

For their navy, the South constructed gunboats wherever and whenever possible. They also sought to have Great Britain and France build for them fast and small ocean raiding vessels to defend their ports and to sink Union cargo vessels. On the diplomatic front, they sought to have either England and or France formally recognize the South and broker a peace deal that would favor Confederate independence.

Answer 5

1) gain control of the Missippi River

2)Take the capital: Richmond, Virginia

3) Blockade the passage of trading goods,supplies, and arms from the confederacy.

Answer 6

the used guns