Why was Vicksburg key to the unions anaconda pla?

Vicksburg was key to the Union's Anaconda Plan because it controlled a crucial stretch of the Mississippi River, which was vital for transportation and supply lines. Capturing Vicksburg would effectively split the Confederacy in two, hindering their ability to move troops and resources. The successful siege of Vicksburg in July 1863 not only secured Union control over the river but also bolstered Northern morale and strategic positioning in the western theater of the Civil War.