Lesson 4: The Course of War

Key Idea

The Union adopted an aggressive, three-part strategy called the Anaconda Plan. This plan intended to squeeze the Confederacy by blockading Southern ports, seizing control of the Mississippi River to split the South in two, and capturing the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.

In contrast, the Confederacy planned to fight a defensive war. Its leaders believed they did not need to invade the North to win. Instead, they aimed to protect their territory, wear down the Union’s will to fight, and secure aid from European nations.

Key Idea

In the summer of 1861, many in the Union believed the war would be over quickly. A confident but untrained army marched toward Richmond, Virginia, expecting to capture the Confederate capital and end the rebellion in one swift stroke.

Near a stream called Bull Run, the two inexperienced armies clashed in the war's first major battle. After some early Union success, Confederate reinforcements arrived and turned the tide. The Union soldiers retreated in a panic, creating a scene of chaos.

Key Idea

The Union navy blockaded Southern ports to cut off supplies. To break this blockade, the Confederacy introduced a new weapon: an ironclad warship. They rebuilt a captured Union ship and covered it with iron plates, renaming it the Virginia.

The Union quickly built its own ironclad, the Monitor. In March 1862, the two ships clashed in a historic battle. Cannonballs bounced harmlessly off their iron hulls.

Key Idea

In the Eastern Theater, the Union's powerful Army of the Potomac often hesitated. Its commanders were cautious, leading to frustrating stalemates and costly battles against Confederate forces.

Meanwhile, the war looked very different in the Western Theater. There, General Ulysses S. Grant led Union armies with aggressive tactics. His hard-won victory at the bloody Battle of Shiloh was a crucial step in the Union's plan to control the Mississippi River.