Total War

Definition

Total war is a military strategy that involves the complete mobilization of society's resources and the targeting of both enemy combatants and non-combatants to achieve total victory. This approach blurs the lines between soldiers and civilians, as it seeks to undermine the enemy's will to fight by destroying their economic and social infrastructure. In the context of the Civil War, this strategy marked a shift in warfare, reflecting the intense political and emotional stakes of the conflict.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Total war during the Civil War was characterized by campaigns that targeted infrastructure, such as railroads and factories, essential for the enemy's war effort.
2. General Sherman’s approach during his march from Atlanta to Savannah in 1864 is often cited as a key example of total war, as his troops destroyed not just military targets but also civilian property.
3. The Union blockade aimed at restricting Confederate access to supplies is another manifestation of total war, impacting civilian economies and livelihoods across the South.
4. Total war contributed to high civilian casualties and significant destruction of property, fundamentally altering the nature of warfare during the Civil War.
5. The strategies employed during total war ultimately aimed to demoralize the enemy and hasten the end of hostilities by making the costs of continuing the fight too high for the opposing side.

Review Questions

• How did total war change traditional notions of warfare during the Civil War?
  • Total war shifted traditional warfare by blurring the lines between military targets and civilian infrastructure. Rather than solely focusing on defeating enemy armies in battle, this strategy aimed to destroy the resources that supported them. By targeting railroads, factories, and even civilian morale, generals like Sherman sought to bring about a quicker end to hostilities through overwhelming pressure on both soldiers and civilians.
• In what ways did Sherman's March to the Sea illustrate the principles of total war?
  • Sherman's March to the Sea exemplified total war through its deliberate destruction of civilian property and infrastructure. Sherman believed that by devastating Georgia's resources, he could break the South's will to continue fighting. His troops destroyed homes, farms, and railroads along their path, demonstrating how total war strategies could extend beyond battlefield engagements to impact daily life and economic stability.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of total war tactics on post-war society in both the North and South.
  • The use of total war tactics had profound long-term effects on both Northern and Southern societies after the Civil War. In the South, widespread destruction led to economic hardship, displacement, and a long recovery period as communities struggled to rebuild. In contrast, Northern victory solidified industrial power but also fostered a sense of moral superiority. The legacy of total war influenced how future conflicts were approached, highlighting a growing recognition that wars would increasingly involve entire societies rather than just armies.

Related terms

Sherman's March: A military campaign led by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman during the Civil War, which exemplified total war tactics through widespread destruction in the South.

Blockade: A military strategy used to prevent goods and supplies from reaching enemy territories, significantly impacting civilian life and the economy during the Civil War.

War of Attrition: A military strategy aimed at wearing down an opponent through continuous losses in personnel and material, often linked to total war tactics.