Total War Strategy

Definition

Total war strategy refers to a military approach where a nation mobilizes all of its resources, including civilian and economic assets, to achieve complete victory over an enemy. This strategy not only focuses on defeating enemy forces but also aims to undermine their will to fight by targeting infrastructure, supply lines, and civilian morale. The implementation of total war can significantly affect both the battlefield and the home front, altering the course of conflicts such as the Civil War, particularly in border regions and the western theater of operations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The total war strategy was prominently used by Union General Ulysses S. Grant and his counterparts, who believed that overwhelming force was necessary to defeat the Confederacy.
2. In the western theater, total war tactics included devastating campaigns against Southern supply lines and railroads, which were crucial for Confederate logistics.
3. Sherman's March to the Sea epitomized total war by targeting not just enemy troops but also civilian infrastructure to diminish Southern morale and support for the war.
4. The use of total war had a profound impact on border states, where battles were fought not only for territory but also to shift public sentiment towards Union support.
5. Total war strategies contributed to significant changes in military logistics, civilian involvement in warfare, and perceptions of warfare in American society during and after the Civil War.

Review Questions

• How did total war strategy influence military tactics in the Civil War?
  • Total war strategy profoundly influenced military tactics during the Civil War by encouraging commanders like Grant and Sherman to adopt aggressive approaches that targeted both enemy forces and civilian resources. This shift meant that battles were fought not just on traditional fronts but also involved destroying railroads, farms, and factories critical for sustaining the enemy's war effort. The aim was to break the Confederacy’s will to fight by demonstrating the futility of their resistance against such overwhelming force.
• Discuss the implications of Sherman's March to the Sea as an example of total war strategy on civilian life in the South.
  • Sherman's March to the Sea serves as a key example of total war strategy's impact on civilian life in the South, as it involved widespread destruction of property and infrastructure meant to cripple Confederate morale. This campaign aimed to disrupt supply lines while instilling fear among civilians, making them less likely to support Confederate efforts. The devastation left behind transformed Southern landscapes and societies, leading to long-term economic challenges and influencing perceptions of warfare in American culture.
• Evaluate how the concept of total war strategy changed societal views on warfare in America after the Civil War.
  • The implementation of total war strategy during the Civil War fundamentally changed societal views on warfare in America by highlighting its brutal realities and ethical complexities. The significant destruction experienced by civilians blurred lines between combatants and non-combatants, leading to a growing recognition of the war's toll on society as a whole. This shift fostered debates about the morality of such strategies in future conflicts, ultimately shaping American military doctrine and public sentiment about involvement in wars.

Related terms

Sherman's March to the Sea: A military campaign led by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman during the Civil War that aimed to inflict maximum damage on the Confederacy's economic and civilian resources.

Scorched Earth Policy: A military strategy that involves destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from an area.

Military Industrial Complex: The relationship between a country's military, its government, and the industries that support it, often leading to increased production and innovation in warfare technology.