Question

What was the goal of the anaconda plan?

Answer 1

The strategy was to suppress the Confederacy at the beginning of the American Civil War proposed by general Chief Winfield Scott, the plan was to  blockaded  the Southern ports, and called for an advance down the Mississippi River to cut the South in two.

Answer 2

The goal of the Anaconda Plan was to squeeze the life out of the South by a naval blockade to cut off shipping, as well as a thrust down the Mississippi River.

The Anaconda Plan uses the term "anaconda," which is a large type of boa snake which squeezes the life out of its victims.  As a military strategy, the Anaconda Plan was proposed by Union General Winfield Scott.  The "anaconda" analogy refers especially to the blockade of the coastline of the Confederate states.