Question

To take control of the Mississippi River, Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant needed to capture the city of _____?

Answer 1

Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant captured the city of Vicksburg to gain control of the Mississippi River, which was a pivotal point in the Civil War.

Step-by-step explanation:

To take control of the Mississippi River, Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant needed to capture the city of Vicksburg.

Situated on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi, Vicksburg was a strategic point of control for river traffic. Grant, with occasional support from the Union Navy, attempted several times to take the city, but initially without success.

In May, Grant laid siege to Vicksburg, knowing that a well-conducted siege could lead to the city's fall with minimal loss of life.

The success of the Vicksburg Campaign was essential for the Union to cut the Confederacy in half, instrumental in the Union's strategy to win the war.