Final answer:
General Winfield Scott's war strategy involved leading the amphibious assault on Veracruz and marching to Mexico City as part of the U.S. military's three-pronged strategy during the Mexican-American War. His tactics capitalized on Mexico's political instability and followed classic military doctrine by first attacking the flanks before moving to the center.
Step-by-step explanation:
U.S. General Winfield Scott's war strategy was a multifaceted approach during the invasion of Mexico, known as the Mexican-American War. The larger U.S. military strategy had three main objectives: taking control of northern Mexico, seizing California, and capturing Mexico City. Scott was tasked with the third and most daring objective - the capture of Mexico City. To achieve this, he led an amphibious assault against the port city of Veracruz. After securing Veracruz, Scott began his march to the capital. His strategy also accounted for the political turmoil within Mexico at the time, exploiting the instability caused by a series of coups and the return of Santa Anna to power.
In the context of military tactics, Scott’s campaigns often involved direct assaults on strategic points, starting with the flanks and then proceeding to the center if those initial attacks were inconclusive. This is similar to the broader philosophical approach of trying the opponent's flanks before going 'up the middle' if necessary, a well-known military strategy also seen in other conflicts such as the Civil War.