The Anaconda Plan sought to achieve what objective?

• A. Blockade Confederate sea ports and seize control of the Mississippi River
• B. Invade Canada to cut off northern supply lines
• C. Engage in rapid, large-scale land battles across the Confederacy
• D. Build a large fleet to dominate Atlantic naval power

Answer: (A)

The plan tests a strategy of choking the Confederacy from the outside—economically and geographically—by cutting off its ports and splitting its territory. The Anaconda Plan aimed to blockade Southern sea ports and seize control of the Mississippi River, effectively strangling imports, exports, and the ability to move troops between eastern and western theaters. This combination of naval pressure and river control was meant to isolate the Confederacy and wear it down without fighting extensive, nationwide land campaigns.

This matches why the best choice highlights blocking ports and controlling the Mississippi. The other ideas describe different approaches: invading Canada would not disrupt Southern supply lines in the intended way; rushing into large-scale land battles across the Confederacy emphasizes direct pitched fighting rather than economic strangulation and strategic division; and building a large Atlantic fleet focuses on naval power beyond the specific Mississippi-centered objective.