The capture of Vicksburg in 1863 contributed to the course of the Civil War byA: preventing the Union from gaining access to the West. B: allowing the Confederacy to remain strong and unified. C: maintaining Confederate control of the Mississippi River. D: raising Union morale and damaging Confederate morale.

D. Raising union morale and damaging confederate morale Vicksburg was a major trading town and the gateway to the Western confederacy, so the loss of it split the confederacy up, isolating the capitol in Virginia. This also disrupted the flow of trade and transportation of materials, which would affect the rest of the war.