The union strategy that kept the confederates from selling cotton and buying supplies was called the Anaconda Plan. This plan was proposed by General Winfield Scott in 1861 and called for a naval blockade of the Confederate coast to prevent the export of cotton and the import of supplies. This strategy was effective in disrupting the Confederate economy and cutting off its access to much-needed supplies. The Union forces blockaded more than 3,000 miles of Confederate coastline, making it difficult for Southern ships to enter or leave port. This prevented the South from selling its cotton to Europe and buying the supplies it needed, such as weapons and ammunition.