The Anaconda Plan was a military strategy proposed by Union General Winfield Scott during the American Civil War. Its main goal was to defeat the Confederate States by blockading their ports and controlling the Mississippi River, effectively squeezing the South's resources and economy. The plan aimed to cut off supplies and reinforcements, making it difficult for the Confederacy to sustain its war efforts. The name "Anaconda" was inspired by the way the snake constricts its prey. The strategy involved a combination of naval blockades and land campaigns to encircle and isolate the Confederate forces. Although initially criticized for being too passive, the Anaconda Plan ultimately laid the groundwork for the Union's victory in the war.