The Union navy imposed a naval blockade on Confederate ports to prevent the Confederacy from exporting cotton and importing war materials. This strangled the southern economy and made it difficult to supply Confederate troops.
2) Anaconda Plan:
Union General Winfield Scott proposed using the Mississippi River and its tributaries to cut the Confederacy in two and isolate it from the West.
3) Total War:
The Union pursued a policy of total war aimed to destroy the Confederate economy, infrastructure, and military forces. This included burning crops, looting towns, and freeing enslaved people.
4) Superior Resources:
Union had significant advantages over the Confederacy in population, industrial capacity, agriculture, and transportation. This allowed to field larger armies, produce more weapons and supplies, and control the seas.
5) Leadership:
The Union benefited from the leadership of Abraham Lincoln, who provided steady leadership, and generals like Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman, who developed effective military strategies.
6) Diplomacy:
The Union used diplomacy to keep European countries from recognizing the Confederacy and providing it with aid.
7) African American Soldiers:
The Union army began recruiting African American soldiers in 1863. These troops played a crucial role in several battles and helped to weaken Confederate forces.