Final answer:
A "total war" describes a conflict where a government uses all available resources and does not distinguish between military and civilian targets, involving every citizen and extending into all aspects of life, as seen in World War I and World War II.
Step-by-step explanation:
Definition of Total War
The best description of a "total war" is a state of conflict in which a government mobilizes all resources and makes no distinction between military and civilian targets, extending its reach into all areas of citizens' lives. During total wars such as World War I and World War II, combatants employed all available resources with no restrictions on weapons or their targets.
Entire nations felt the impact of the conflict, necessitating the participation of not just military personnel but also every citizen. Governments extended their reach into previously untouched aspects of daily life, signaling a shift toward a more intrusive and demanding state presence in the economy and society. Additionally, the distinction between the battlefield and the home front often vanished, leading to widespread devastation and civilian involvement in the war effort.
Historical examples of total war include the aggressive actions taken by both Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War and the extensive mobilization and civilian impact during World Wars I and II. These wars ushered in a new era of global conflict that transformed international relations and the technology of warfare. The doctrine of total war represented a significant departure from previous forms of limited or traditional warfare and has since become a standard concept in understanding the nature of modern conflicts.