Led by President Abraham Lincoln

STRENGTHS OF THE UNITED STATES

• Large population 

• Industry

• Large network of railroads

• Strong navy

• Lincoln's leadership

WEAKNESSES OF THE UNITED STATES

• They were fighting an offensive war - in order to win, they had to defeat the South 

• They were fighting in unfamiliar land

• They had long supply lines that were open to attack

Led by President Jefferson Davis

STRENGTHS OF THE CONFEDERACY

• They were fighting a defensive war - the North would have to defeat them in order to win 

• They felt that they were fighting for their independence from the North

• Much of the fighting was in the South and they felt like they were fighting for their homes - they were also familiar with the land

• Their soldiers had shooting and horse riding skills

• They had good military leadership

WEAKNESSES OF THE CONFEDERACY

• Few factories to produce weapons and supplies

• Few railroads

• A limited central government

• Small navy and merchant fleet

• Small population

The goal of the  Union was to  reunite the United States. The North would have to force the South to surrender and become part of the United States again.

General Winfield Scott came up with a plan for winning the war that you can see in the picture above. It became known as the anaconda plan. Anacondas are snakes that squeeze their prey. The Union hoped to put pressure all over the South.

The North would blockade the Southern ports - they would use the navy to prevent the South from exporting their cotton or importing supplies

The North would take control of the Mississippi River - this would split the Confederacy into two

The third step was to take control of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia

The main goal of the South was to become their own country so they could set laws on slavery the way they wanted. When they seceded from the United States, they basically had what they wanted. Their goal was now to remain a separate country and fight the North until the North gave up fighting.

The South hoped to get help from France and Great Britain. These were two nations that wanted Southern cotton.

To convince the North to surrender, the South planned to fight a defensive war and wear down the people of the North until they decided to give up.