Question
In 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army adopted a strategy known as "total war." This strategy aimed to break the Confederate people's will to fight, not just defeat the Confederate military. Sherman's troops destroyed homes, crops, and railroads in their march through Georgia, with the goal of leaving the South devastated and unable to continue the war. His famous March to the Sea from Atlanta to Savannah exemplified this approach, causing widespread destruction and forcing civilians to feel the effects of the conflict.
Based on the passage, what was Sherman's strategy during the Civil War, and how did it differ from traditional military tactics?
Based on the passage, what was Sherman's strategy during the Civil War, and how did it differ from traditional military tactics?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Sherman's strategy during the Civil War, known as "total war," aimed to break the will of the Confederate people to continue fighting, rather than solely focusing on defeating their military forces. This approach significantly differed from traditional military tactics, which typically concentrated on engaging enemy troops in battle and securing territorial gains.
Instead of just targeting military installations or armies, Sherman's total war strategy involved the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes, crops, and railroads, to undermine the Confederacy's resources and morale. His March to the Sea exemplified this tactic by inflicting widespread devastation on the landscape, which aimed to make the consequences of the war felt by civilians and diminish their support for the Confederate cause.
Instead of just targeting military installations or armies, Sherman's total war strategy involved the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes, crops, and railroads, to undermine the Confederacy's resources and morale. His March to the Sea exemplified this tactic by inflicting widespread devastation on the landscape, which aimed to make the consequences of the war felt by civilians and diminish their support for the Confederate cause.