The focus of the Anaconda Plan, developed during the American Civil War, was to strategically weaken the Confederacy through a blockade and control of the Mississippi River. This military strategy aimed to suffocate the South’s economy by cutting off essential supplies and trade routes. By encircling the Confederacy, Union forces sought to limit their ability to sustain the war and ultimately force a surrender. The plan reflected a broader strategy of attrition, adapting resources and manpower to gradually diminish Confederate resistance and unify the nation.