Anaconda Plan

The Anaconda Plan was a strategic military blueprint proposed by Union General Winfield Scott during the American Civil War. Its goal was to defeat the Confederacy by blockading Southern ports and cutting off vital supply lines, effectively "squeezing" the South like an anaconda snake. By controlling the Mississippi River and restricting trade, the Union aimed to weaken the Southern economy and military capabilities, leading to eventual surrender. The plan emphasized a combination of naval blockades and land offensives to encircle and isolate Confederate forces, ultimately shaping Union strategy throughout the war.