Final answer:
The second component of The Union's Military Plan during the Civil War likely refers to the Anaconda Plan, aimed at blockading southern ports and controlling the Mississippi River to weaken the Confederacy's resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Union's military strategy during the Civil War experienced many adjustments and changes throughout the conflict. The second component of the military plan often refers to the Union strategy developed by General Winfield Scott, known as the Anaconda Plan. The main objective of this plan was to strangle the Confederacy's resources by blockading southern ports and advancing down the Mississippi River to effectively split the Confederacy in two. This military plan evolved over time as new generals like Ulysses S. Grant came to prominence, and they brought with them different tactics and strategies, such as focusing on destroying the Confederacy's armies rather than merely capturing territory.
These military strategies were informed by the realization that the conflict would not be a short one, and the balanced strengths and weaknesses of both sides. Military strength and national security policies, as suggested in Figure 5.1.6, have historically been central components in safeguarding a nation, which was true for the Union’s approach during the Civil War.