{"id":11690,"date":"2024-01-04T17:45:08","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T16:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=11690"},"modified":"2024-01-04T17:45:08","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T16:45:08","slug":"why-did-the-union-want-to-control-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/why-did-the-union-want-to-control-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Did The Union Want To Control The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Mississippi River has been an important water source for thousands of years. It has been used for transportation, recreation, and to provide water for agriculture, industry and power. Because of its strategic importance, the river has been the subject of a number of conflicts. In the past, the Union and Confederate forces fought over access to the river during the Civil War and in the 19th century, the Union fought to gain control of the river with the aim of securing safe passage for goods and people, and keeping the Confederacy from using it to transport goods. <\/p>\n

The Union wanted to control the Mississippi River as it would provide safe passage for goods and people and would keep the Confederacy from using it to transport goods. The Union wanted to prevent the Confederacy from using the river for military purposes and to protect the strategic advantage that the river provided. The Union was also interested in controlling the river in order to ensure trade and economic growth. <\/p>\n

In addition to wanting to control the Mississippi River for strategic and economic reasons, the Union also wanted to protect the rights of African Americans. During the Civil War, many African Americans in the South were enslaved and treated harshly by the Confederate forces. The Union wanted control of the river to ensure African Americans had the same rights and freedoms as white Americans.<\/p>\n

The Union’s control of the Mississippi River was a key factor in the success of the Union army. The Union army was able to use the river to transport troops, supplies, and ammunition while also providing a secure route for their return. This allowed the Union army to move rapidly and outmaneuver the Confederate forces. The Union’s control of the river provided a major strategic advantage, giving them control of many of the resources and transportation routes in the South. <\/p>\n