Goals:
1. Exhaustion of Confederate Resources: The Union aimed to exhaust the Confederacy's manpower, supplies, and economic capabilities by waging a long and relentless war of attrition. By prolonging the conflict, the Union hoped to weaken the Confederate military and make it difficult for them to continue fighting.
2. Control of the Mississippi River: Gaining control of the Mississippi River was a crucial goal for the Union. The river served as a major transportation artery for the Confederacy, connecting the western states with the East. By controlling the Mississippi, the Union could disrupt Confederate supply lines, isolate the western states, and gain access to vital resources.
3. Destruction of the Confederate Economy: The Union strategy aimed to destroy the Confederacy's economic base and infrastructure to undermine its ability to wage war. This included targeting Confederate industries, railroads, agricultural resources, and civilian morale.
4. Emancipation of Enslaved People: President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 declared the freedom of enslaved people in the Confederate states, effectively making the war about the abolition of slavery and the future of the nation.
Effects:
1. Prolonging the War: The total war strategy contributed to the Civil War's extension as both sides fought fiercely to achieve their goals. The war lasted for four years and resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives.
2. Economic Disruption: The war caused significant economic disruption in both the North and the South. The destruction of infrastructure, the loss of manpower, and the disruption of trade had lasting effects on the economies of both regions.
3. Humanitarian Crisis: The total war strategy led to immense human suffering. The destruction of civilian property, the displacement of people, and the widespread loss of life created a humanitarian crisis, particularly in the war-torn regions of the South.
4. Emancipation and Reconstruction: The war and the Union's strategy ultimately resulted in the emancipation of enslaved people and the abolition of slavery in the United States. The emancipation led to the Reconstruction era, during which the nation grappled with the issues of reintegrating former slaves into society and rebuilding the war-torn South.
In conclusion, the Union's strategy of total war during the American Civil War aimed to exhaust Confederate resources, control strategic territories, destroy the Confederacy's economy, and emancipate enslaved people. The effects of this strategy included a prolonged war, economic disruption, a humanitarian crisis, and ultimately, the abolition of slavery and the reshaping of the nation's social and political landscape.