Why was seizing control of the Mississippi river an important strategy of the union navy?

Answer 1

Holding the river meant that major supply route for the Confederate army was cut off. It strengthened the Union blockade of Southern ports by severely restricting all other commercial trade and hampered the Confederate war efforts by restricting the movements of the Confederate armies.

Answer 2

This is part of an overall strategy created by General Winfield Scott. The name was the "Anaconda plan". It included a complete naval blockade of all southern ports and then cutting the "South" into smaller pieces.

Seizing the Mississippi cut Texas and western southern forces off from the east. This deprived the confederates of resources from Texas.

Seizing the ports of New Orleans and Mobile Bay (near the Mississippi) also denied the rebels seaborne supplies from France and England if not from South America.

The strategy became progressively more effective as the United States applied more Naval and Land forces to the war.

Answer 3

to basically strangle the confederate states by choking off their supplies so they couldn't get things that they could use against the UNion. They also didn't get things which made them weaker sooo the Union's strategy was all about waiting out the fight until the Confederates finally had no resources remaining. (this is also how they used the navy, by building barriers with their boats to prevent the Confederate states from trading with other countries)

Answer 4

The Union was trying to stop the Confederacy from receiving goods, supplies and arms.

Answer 5

It cut the Confederacy in half.

Answer 6

A simple case of "divide and conquer".