Union's naval blockade

Definition

The Union's naval blockade refers to the strategy employed by the Union forces during the Civil War, where they used their navy to prevent supplies and trade from reaching the Confederate states. This blockade aimed to weaken the Confederacy economically and militarily.

Related terms

Confederate economy: The economic system of the Confederate states heavily relied on trade with foreign countries, specifically through cotton exports. However, due to the Union's naval blockade, this trade was severely disrupted.

Blockade runners: These were ships that attempted to bypass or evade the Union's naval blockade in order to bring supplies and goods into Confederate ports.

Anaconda Plan: The overall military strategy of the Union during the Civil War, which included using a naval blockade as one of its key components.