Morality Of Total War Analysis

War is never an easy discussion; it is a subject people constantly debate, especially in regards to total war. Questioning the morality of total war is an issue due to the elasticity of the definition, which is dependent upon the individual. General William T. Sherman’s total war strategy in Georgia and the Carolinas is arguably morally acceptable -even though it included waging war against the civilian population- when taking into account the benefits versus the costs. There were excessive actions taken by Sherman’s soldiers, which stemmed from their prejudices towards the southern population. However, as a result of Sherman’s plan the war ended in a swift victory for the North. The justification and by association the morality of total war
The Union soldiers understood the importance of weakening the Confederate economy; even slaves suffered the plundering of their goods and as a resource themselves were freed. That was a double edge sword, the freeing of slaves was in opposition to southern lifestyle and the South took a financial blow they could ill afford if they desired to continue financing the war. Soldiers focused on ravishing the land for goods, less so in taking advantage of women. Women were in a perilous position, but it revolved around hunger and destitution as a direct result of the ravishing. A driving force in the war had been southern belles; they encouraged the men in their lives to enlist and supported them by sending in supplies, which ceased because of Sherman’s
April 12, 1861 marked the beginning of the Civil War when shots were fired at Fort Sumter, February 17, 1865 Fort Sumter and Charleston were abandoned by Confederate troops. Sherman’s troops were in enemy territory, the plan always was to wreak havoc in order to expedite the conclusion of the war, especially in South Carolina, which initiated secession. Morally speaking it was a necessary evil to end the bloodshed, the warring of one nation, and return peace to the country and the families it separated, it provided closure to one of the darkest moments in American history. Valueless Confederate money was burned as if it were firewood, rations were scarce and what was available was pathetic, Confederates states were unwilling to aid one another due to a mindset of pro state government versus anti federal government, the Confederacy was falling apart, and Sherman gave it the final push it needed. Total war was an effort for peace, which required “make[ing] war so terrible… and make them so sick of war that generations would pass away before they would again appeal to it.” It was a debated idea Sherman would either succeed and leave behind a legacy of brilliance, or be written off as a foolish military