Both the Confederacy and the Union governments had to continue to grow in order to manage the logistics of recruiting men and maintaining, feeding, and equipping an army. Another reality of war that became apparent in 1862 and beyond was the influence of combat on the size and scope of government. Total war also requires governments to mobilize all resources, extending their reach into their citizens’ lives as never before. Both the Union and Confederate forces moved toward total war, although neither side ever entirely abolished the distinction between military and civilian. In this type of war, armies often make no distinction between civilian and military targets. MASS MOBILIZATIONīy late 1862, the course of the war had changed to take on the characteristics of total war, in which armies attempt to demoralize the enemy by both striking military targets and disrupting their opponent’s ability to wage war through destruction of their resources. Increased need for manpower, the issue of slavery, and the ongoing challenges of keeping the war effort going changed the way life on both sides as the conflict progressed. The longer the war continued, the more it began to affect life in both the North and the South. The American Civil War is a case study of this characteristic of modern war.Īlthough Northerners and Southerners both anticipated that the battle between the Confederacy and the Union would be settled quickly, it soon became clear to all that there was no resolution in sight. As they drag on, the energy and zeal that marked the entry into warfare often wane, as losses increase and people on both sides suffer the tolls of war. Wars have their own logic they last far longer than anyone anticipates at the beginning of hostilities. Explain why 1863 was a pivotal year in the war.Describe mobilization efforts in the North and the South.Explain what is meant by the term “total war” and provide examples.By the end of this section, you will be able to:
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