Who was the primary architect of the Anaconda Plan during the American Civil War?

The primary architect of the Anaconda Plan during the American Civil War was Winfield Scott. The Anaconda Plan was a strategic outline proposed in 1861 to defeat the Confederacy by blockading southern ports, controlling the Mississippi River, and splitting the Confederacy into smaller pieces to weaken it economically and militarily.

Winfield Scott, as the Union's general-in-chief, devised this plan as a way to suffocate the South's ability to sustain its war effort. The strategy aimed to utilize the Union's naval superiority and resources efficiently while minimizing casualties. Scott's experience and understanding of military strategy influenced the development of this plan, which would later guide Union actions throughout the war.

Other figures, such as Ulysses S. Grant and George McClellan, played significant roles in the war but were not responsible for crafting the Anaconda Plan. Robert E. Lee, being a Confederate general, would be more focused on combating the Union's strategies rather than developing a Union plan like the Anaconda Plan.