Total War
A war that is unrestricted of the territory or combatants involved
Real World Example
During the American Civil War, the concept of total war meant that the conflict wasn't limited to just the battlefield but affected entire societies, including civilians and their resources. General William Tecumseh Sherman's "March to the Sea" is an example, as his troops destroyed infrastructure and resources in the South to weaken their ability to fight. This approach was important because it aimed to break the enemy's will to continue the war by targeting economic and civilian infrastructure. Today, the idea of total war reminds us how conflicts can impact everyday life, including shortages of goods or disruptions in daily routines. For example, in a modern context, cybersecurity threats can affect everyone by targeting essential services like banking or healthcare, showing that conflicts still have the potential to reach beyond traditional battlefields.
