homework help: why are world wars 1 and 2 called the "total wars"?

Answer 1

True, but even more, the countries involved were 100% involved. Aside from some increased production in certain areas, and the draft, wars like Vietnam and the war on terror don't affect the "home front" that much. In both of the world wars, countries shifted their entire industrial capacity to wartime production. Every available asset was used to directly help the war effort.

Answer 2

a total war is a war in which the countries devote all their time, energy, resources to winning the war. eg: instead of manufacturing goods that civillians needed, the gov made the people (every single person was put to work or fighting) goods that soldiers needed

Answer 3

Almost everyone in the world was affected by those wars, whether they were in Korea or in Argentina. From the peasants to the upper class, no one was left unscathed.