The Civil War is sometimes called the first “total war.” What does thi

The Civil War is sometimes called the first “total war.” What does this label mean? Cite several actions of the Civil War that seem to illustrate that it was a total war.

What will be an ideal response?

ANSWER
Total war involves the mobilization of all the resources of a nation not only to conquer an enemy’s territory, but to destroy its army, and its ability and willingness to fight. Consider: the scale of mobilization of resources and manpower in the North; use of the Emancipation Proclamation to attack the Southern economy and society; Sherman’s March to the Sea to crush Southern will.