What were the South's two main military strategies at the beginning of the war? (1 point) Responses blockade Union ports along the Mississippi River and capture border states blockade Union ports along the Mississippi River and capture border states
At the beginning of the American Civil War, the Confederacy (the South) primarily had two main strategies:
1. Defensive-Offensive Strategy: The South aimed to defend its territory against the invading Northern forces while seeking opportunities to engage in offensive operations when advantageous. The goal was to protect Southern land, maintain the Confederate way of life, and make the war costly for the Union in terms of resources and morale.
2. "King Cotton" Diplomacy: The second strategy involved leveraging the South's cotton production to gain recognition and support from European powers, particularly Great Britain and France. The South believed that these countries, which were reliant on Southern cotton for their textile industries, would be compelled to support the Confederacy or even intervene on its behalf to ensure a continued supply of cotton. This strategy was based on the idea that a cotton shortage would cause economic disruption in Europe and encourage foreign governments to break the Union blockade or recognize the Confederacy as an independent nation to resume trade.
Neither of the strategies mentioned in your question -- blockading Union ports or capturing border states -- were part of the Confederacy's initial plans. In fact, it was the North that implemented a blockade (the Anaconda Plan) to suffocate the Southern economy and prevent the export of cotton and the import of military supplies. The capture of border states was much more of a concern for the Union, which aimed to keep border states like Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri within the Union and prevent their secession to the Confederacy. The Union's success in maintaining control of these areas was crucial for its military strategy and efforts to isolate the Confederate states.