Total War and the American Civil War: An Exploration of the Applicability of the Label “Total War” to the Conflict of 1861-1865

Abstract

The Civil War of 1861-1865 is labeled the first modern war in America's history. It is also labeled as a "total war." This article explores the broader definition of "total war" and whether the term is accurately applied to this American conflict. The Civil War, through analysis of the intensity of the war, the range and scope of the conflict, and the mobilization of civilian and governmental forces, earns the label "total war." Ultimately, this pivotal American conflict foreshadowed the total wars the United States would come to fight in the 20th century.