Which battle gave the Union control of the Mississippi and split the Confederacy?

• A. Battle of Gettysburg.
• B. Battle of Vicksburg.
• C. Battle of Antietam.
• D. Battle of Fort Sumter.

Answer: (B)

This question centers on the Union’s effort to control the Mississippi River, a move that would cut the Confederacy in two and disrupt its ability to move troops and supplies between east and west. The Battle of Vicksburg achieved that goal by capturing the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, after a protracted siege led by Ulysses S. Grant. Its strategic position on high bluffs above the Mississippi made it a formidable obstacle, and the Confederate defense finally collapsed on July 4, 1863. With Vicksburg in Union hands, the Confederacy was effectively split along the river, since control of the entire Mississippi shifted to the Union from its source to the Gulf of Mexico.

In contrast, the other battles occurred for different reasons and locations: Gettysburg was a pivotal battle in the East with greater strategic impact there, not about Mississippi control; Antietam was a major engagement in Maryland that influenced Union leadership and emancipation policy but didn’t affect river control; Fort Sumter was the opening clash of the war in South Carolina and did not address the Mississippi.