Question

Which description describes how the Union finally won control over the entire Mississippi River valley?

A. Battle in which Union troops gained greater control of the Mississippi River valley
B. Naval leader who helped the Union take control of New Orleans.
C. Union General whose troops won several important battles on southern soil.
D. Six-week blockade of Vicksburg that starved the city into surrender.

Answer 1

The Union gained control over the entire Mississippi River valley by successfully besieging Vicksburg, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, after a six-week blockade that starved the city into surrender. Option A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The control over the entire Mississippi River valley was finally achieved when the Union, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, seized Vicksburg. This victory was a turning point in the Civil War.

After several failed attempts both by land and by military bombardment, General Grant's forces laid a six-week blockade on Vicksburg, eventually starving the city into surrender.

The fall of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, granted the Union complete control over the Mississippi River, effectively cutting the Confederacy in two and representing a major strategic victory in the concept of total war.

Previously, key successes in the area included the Union navy under Admiral David Farragut taking control of New Orleans and Memphis, which were critical for the Confederacy's supply chain and strategy.

However, it was the Vicksburg Campaign, culminating in the siege and surrender of the Confederate-held city, that finally allowed the Union to control the full expanse of the Mississippi River valley, crucial for military and supply movement.

The importance of this success cannot be overstated, as it was instrumental in Union efforts to divide and conquer the southern states, disrupting Confederate logistics and economy significantly.

So option A is correct answer.