What was the main strategy of the Union during the Civil War?

The main strategy of the Union during the Civil War was indeed the Anaconda Plan. This strategy was devised by General Winfield Scott and aimed to suffocate the Confederacy's economy and resources. The Anaconda Plan involved a naval blockade of the Southern ports to prevent the export of cotton and the import of supplies, which would gradually weaken the Confederate economy. In addition to the blockade, the plan called for securing control of the Mississippi River, effectively splitting the Confederacy in two and disrupting transportation and supply lines.

The Anaconda Plan is significant because it reflected a comprehensive approach to warfare that prioritized strategic positioning and resource deprivation over immediate, large-scale confrontations. The Union aimed to exhaust the South’s resources and will to fight over time rather than relying on rapid offensives. This method ultimately contributed to the Union's success by wearing down Confederate resistance and securing key supply routes and territories.