Final answer:
General Grant's overall goal in waging total war was to break the will of the Confederacy and force an end to the war. His strategy was successful in gaining control of important territories and weakening the Confederate forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
General Grant's overall goal in waging total war was to break the will of the Confederacy and force an end to the war. He believed that by destroying everything in his path, including both military and civilian targets, he could demoralize the enemy and disrupt their ability to wage war. Grant's strategy was successful because it helped the Union gain control of important territories and weaken the Confederate forces.