Question

which statement best describes the impact of total war during world war i?

a. the war affected not only the military but also all aspects of a country, including politics, economics, and civilians.
b. the war forced small countries to join together to form large empires for their own defense.
c. the war was fought in trenches far away from cities in order to keep wartime atrocities a secret.
d. the war was fought on several fronts and involved every country on every continent in the fighting.

Explanation:

Total war is a concept where the entire resources and population of a nation are mobilized for the war effort. This means it impacts not just the military but all aspects of a country like politics (e.g., government policies for war), economics (e.g., war - time production and rationing), and civilians (e.g., conscription of men, women taking up jobs in factories).

• Option B: Forming large empires was not a direct impact of total war. Imperialism was more of a pre - war cause in some cases.
• Option C: Trench warfare was a military strategy, but the idea of keeping atrocities secret is not the essence of total war. Total war can involve atrocities, but its main characteristic is the all - encompassing nature of the war effort.
• Option D: World War I did not involve every country on every continent. For example, many South American countries had limited involvement.

Answer:

A. The war affected not only the military but also all aspects of a country, including politics, economics, and civilians.