Total War

Definition

Total War is a military strategy that involves the complete mobilization of a nation's resources and population to achieve victory, often disregarding the limits on the conduct of warfare. It blurs the lines between combatants and civilians, as it targets not only enemy armies but also their economic and civilian resources to undermine their will to fight. This strategy was notably employed during the Civil War, reshaping military conflict and influencing government policies aimed at sustaining the war effort.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Total War was epitomized by General Sherman's strategy of targeting civilian infrastructure, which aimed to break the South's will to continue fighting.
2. The Union's implementation of Total War resulted in significant destruction across Southern states, disrupting supply chains and civilian life.
3. Government policies during the Civil War, such as conscription and resource allocation for military needs, reflected the total war strategy by emphasizing a national commitment to victory.
4. Total War marked a departure from traditional warfare by engaging entire populations in the conflict, which had lasting impacts on how wars were fought in the future.
5. The extensive use of railroads and telegraphs during the Civil War facilitated the implementation of Total War strategies, allowing for faster troop movements and better communication.

Review Questions

• How did the strategy of Total War change the nature of military conflict during the Civil War?
  • Total War transformed military conflict in the Civil War by involving not just soldiers but entire populations in the war effort. Strategies like Sherman's March targeted civilian infrastructure and resources, aiming to diminish the enemy's morale and ability to sustain its forces. This approach blurred traditional lines between combatants and non-combatants, leading to widespread destruction and altering how wars were conducted moving forward.
• Evaluate how government policies during the Civil War supported the implementation of Total War strategies.
  • Government policies during the Civil War, such as conscription and increased production for war supplies, were critical in supporting Total War strategies. By enforcing conscription, governments ensured that they had enough manpower to sustain prolonged military campaigns. Furthermore, policies directing resources towards war industries allowed for a focused effort on military needs while limiting civilian consumption. This alignment of policy with Total War principles created a unified national effort toward achieving victory.
• Analyze the long-term implications of adopting Total War as a strategy during the Civil War on future conflicts.
  • The adoption of Total War strategies during the Civil War had profound long-term implications on future conflicts by establishing precedents for engaging entire societies in warfare. This approach shifted military tactics toward targeting economic resources and civilian infrastructures, changing perceptions of acceptable warfare practices. As nations increasingly utilized Total War tactics in subsequent wars, such as World Wars I and II, it raised ethical questions about the impact on civilian populations and redefined norms around warfare.

Related terms

Sherman's March to the Sea: A military campaign led by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1864, known for its destructive path through Georgia aimed at crippling the Confederacy's ability to sustain the war.

Conscription:

The compulsory enlistment of individuals into military service, implemented during the Civil War to bolster armies in the face of extensive casualties and manpower shortages.

War Economy: An economy that prioritizes military production and resource allocation towards war efforts, often involving government intervention to manage supplies and labor.