Final answer:
The Anaconda Plan included a blockade of Confederate ports, control of the Mississippi River, and capture of Richmond, Virginia. It did not initially aim for the emancipation of slaves, but this became a Union war objective later.
Step-by-step explanation:
The elements of the Union military's Anaconda Plan during the Civil War included a comprehensive strategy aimed at defeating the Confederacy. The key components of the plan were:
- Blockade of Confederate ports to prevent the South from engaging in international trade and obtaining necessary supplies.
- Control of the Mississippi River, which was critical for splitting the Confederacy and for transport and logistical control.
- Capture of Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy, seen as a vital psychological and administrative blow.
While the plan did not explicitly include gradual emancipation of slaves - this became a part of the Union's objectives as the war progressed, especially following the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation. However, it was not a defined element of the Anaconda Plan at its conception.
The correct answer to the question is 1) Blockade of Confederate ports, 2) Control of the Mississippi River, and 3) Capture of Richmond, Virginia.