Final answer:
New Orleans was crucial during the Civil War because it was a key port for the Confederacy, controlling the vital Mississippi River. Its capture by Union forces in 1862 severely impacted the Confederate economy and strategy, highlighting the Union's naval dominance and furthering their total war approach.
Step-by-step explanation:
New Orleans was so important during the Civil War primarily because it served as a key port for the Confederacy. As the most important port in the South, it was the hub for export of the cotton harvested from Southern states which was a major economic resource for the Confederacy. The fall of New Orleans to Union forces in April 1862 under the command of Admiral David Farragut marked a significant loss for the Confederacy. It allowed the Union to effectively control the Mississippi River and thus cut off supplies, including agricultural exports like cotton, crippling the Confederacy's ability to trade with other nations.
Additionally, New Orleans' strategic position at the mouth of the Mississippi River made it a vital point for transportation and supply routes. With New Orleans under Union control, it was easier to launch operations aimed at taking other Confederate positions along the river, such as Vicksburg, which further divided the Confederacy.
The capture of New Orleans was also symbolic, indicating the effective use of Union naval power and contributing to the strategy of total war which aimed to disrupt the economic and social structure of the South, not just its armies. Hence, capturing New Orleans was central to the Union's strategy of dividing and conquering the southern states.