To stop aid from Europe.
The Union (north of the United States) was in war with the Confederates (south of the United States. The Union tried to starve the south out by making a blockade. The way the south stopped it was by putting iron on its ships and shooting cannons at the other ships.
No, they were isolated by the US Navy blockade.
The Confederates needed blockade-runners to bring in much-needed war supplies.
To stop aid from Europe.
The French and the British did trade with the confederates, but little of that got through because of the Union blockade. The French were officially neutral but recognised the confederates as a "belligerent".
Blockades on Southern ports were set up in the Anaconda Plan. This plan was to use naval vessels to block all ports within the Confederates States. If they could not get their cotton out to market then they could not bring in any supplies.
World's first submarine
The Confederates were the Southern soldiers of the Confederate States in Colonial America.
The Confederates were the Southern states in the Civil War.
With the iron plated ship "the Virginia" that could easily withstand Union cannon fire.
The Confederates' chronic shortage of supplies, as they had so little manufacturing capacity.
Having to recruit from a much smaller population. Success of the Union naval blockade.