Jan 23, 2019
The Anaconda Plan
By: Natalie Latkovic
General Winfield Scott's Anaconda Plan Benefits The Civil War
1860s-Map
Background Info
=Confederate States (Slave states)
= Union states (Free states)
= Border States
= "Blank" territory (non-states)
Back in the 1860s slavery was a very controversial issue amongst the United States of America. The country divided itself based on the issue. The dark blue states on the map to the left, represent the Union states. These states were against slavery therefore, it was illegal in these regions to own slaves. If a slave escaped to the Union states they were considered free (unless caught and sent back to the Confederate State where they came from.) The red states represent the Confederate states in which slavery was legal. Along with that, the light blue states are the Border states. These states were in between Union states and Confederate states. Meaning they supported either side making them play an important role in the Civil War. The main cause of the Civil War was that half the country wanted to abolish slavery and the other half wanted it to remain legalized.
The Anaconda Plan was a plan created by General Winfield Scott during the beginning of the American Civil War. This plan was a brilliant strategic method as for how to defeat the Confederacy. The method of this plan was to blockade the Southern states' ports and control the Mississippi River. This would prevent the south from trading or transporting outside America. This plan was very well constructed because it weakened the enemy by isolating them. It was initially put into place following the Confederate attack on Fort Sumpter on April 12th, 1861.
Trivia: How did the Anocanda Plan receive its name?
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This plan got its name because much like an anaconda, this plan was to strangle the Confederate states (prey).
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Along with that, the trail resembles the shape of a snake.
This is General Winfield Scott
Events:
1. ) General Winfield Scott developed the Anaconda Plan
- He developed this plan in order to isolate the southern states from the rest of the world. The objectives to do this required:
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Setting up a naval blockade of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico ports that were controlled by the Confederacy
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. Transport about 60,000 Union troops amongst 40 stream transports with the transportation of gunboats down the Mississippi River.
2.) The Anaconda Plan Was Rejected
This plan required far too many intricate objectives. Many people did not approve of the plan because it was far too passive and slow to put into action. Many Union people believed they should use their massive military and industrial base. Although this plan required patience and time, ideally it would have minimal deaths on both sides which was intended to be humane. However, President Lincoln and most civilians believed they should raise their army in Washington instead of the Mississippi.
3.) General Scott Retired
- Goerge McClellan had a plan to raise an army of 80,000 men in Ohio and send them on an overland campaign through Virginia and then capture Richmond. However, this military plan was rejected by General Scott in favor of his own plan. Later, General Scott retired and Lincoln hired McClellan to take Scott's place, becoming commander of the Union Army.
4.) The Anaconda Plan Revisited
The Union was trying to end the war as quickly as possible. This required a strategy that would end the war quickly but efficiently. They ended up using some tactics and methods from the Anocanda Plan. Although the Union improvised on the plan, it was not as passive, patient, time-consuming and humane as it was originally intended to be. This resulted into the Union army rampaging on the south during William Sherman's March to The Sea in 1864. Like the Anaconda plan, the rampage on the south deprived them of food and materials they needed.
5.) Outcome
There was a lot of violence and many casualties. The other events that occurred after the revisit to the plan, was the burning of Atlanta Georgia and other victories that benefited from the blockade. General Scott's plan emphasized more on a peaceful ending, whereas other union commanders accomplished the same strategies with a more gruesome and brutal outcome. The overall framework of the Anaconda Plan contributed a huge benefit to the Unions victory from the Confederacy's surrender.
This is Abraham Lincoln with the Union generals discussing the plan.
Impact
On the war
The Anaconda Plan was a beneficial asset to the Union military during the Civil War. This plan gave the Union a good strategy in order to attack the Confederacy in their weak spots. Although General Scott's plan never fell through in the way he intended, he inspired the other Union generals with his thorough methods. The people involved in this plan/battle were General Winfield Scott, Abraham Lincoln, other Union generals such as McClellan, and roughly 80,000 Union Military soldiers. On the other side of the story the leader of the Confederacy, Robert Lee was involved. In the end, the Union states won the Civil War with the assistance of the Anaconda Plan.
The battle that used this plan was called the Confederacy Blockade.
Interesting Fact:
Interesting Fact:
The operations of the Anaconda Plan were also to strangle the international cotton trade of the south.
The death count of the Anaconda Plan was unknown .