What is ment by total war?

Answer 1

Total war generally refers to a war fought against all members of a certain society. This means the attacking of all men, women, children, the sacking and burning of private property, fields, etc.

This technique was used against the South during the American Civil War, where a 50 mile wide line was scoured into the earth where no forests stood, no fields grew, and no livestock roamed to prevent the South from utilizing any resources.