Vicksburg

Definition

The Siege of Vicksburg (May-July 1863) was a major victory for the Union during the Civil War. It gave control of the Mississippi River to the North, effectively splitting the Confederacy in two and disrupting their supply lines.

Analogy

Think of Vicksburg as a crucial bridge in a city that's been under dispute. Once one side gains control over it, they can control traffic flow and cut off resources to the other side - just like how Union forces controlled supplies via Mississippi River after winning Vicksburg.

Related terms

Ulysses S. Grant: He was a leading Union general during the Civil War who later became the 18th president of United States.

Mississippi River: This is North America's second-longest river which played a strategic role during Civil War as controlling it meant controlling supply routes.

Confederate States of America: A group of eleven Southern states that seceded from United States over issues including states' rights and slavery.