Final answer:
The North began to adopt a strategy of total war by late 1862, which involved targeting military and resources to disrupt the Confederate's ability to fight and maintain wartime efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
By late 1862, the North began to develop a military plan that would lead to total war, designed to demoralize the enemy and disrupt their ability to wage war. This military strategy extended beyond targeting the enemy's armed forces, involving the destruction of resources, infrastructure, and sometimes not distinguishing between civilian and military targets.
Total war required mobilization of all resources and extended the government's reach into citizens' lives. The North's plan aimed to defeat the Confederate forces and then pacify the conquered territories. The strategy of total war also led to significant growth in both the Union and Confederate governments, as they needed to recruit, maintain, and supply significant numbers of troops.