World history concepts · AP World History: Modern
Total war
Total war: Warfare in which states mobilize their entire economy, population and resources, and civilians become part of the war effort and targets.
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What it means
World War I and World War II were total wars: governments directed industry, rationed goods, used propaganda and conscripted soldiers, and civilians worked in war industries. Bombing of cities made civilians direct targets.
Total war expanded state power and changed social roles, including women's participation in the workforce.
Example
During World War I, governments took control of key industries and used propaganda posters to encourage enlistment and conservation.
On the exam
Total war is a Unit 7 concept, useful in essays about state power and the effects of the world wars.
Lessons and practice questions
Related terms
- Cold WarThe rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies from about 1945 to 1991, fought through ideology, arms races and proxy wars, with no direct war between the two superpowers.
- NationalismA sense of shared identity and loyalty to a nation, often based on common language, culture or history, and the belief that the nation should govern itself.