Why did general grant adopt the total war strategy?
a. to bring the war to a speedy end
b. to prove that he was worthy of the job
c. to seek revenge against general lee
d. to wage a defensive campaign

The correct answer is A, to bring the war to a speedy end.

The purpose of the total war strategy was to destroy the economy of the Confederacy and put a quick end to the war. The Union knew it had power in terms of men and money. While Northern farms had maintained to produce food, the Southerners had allowed greed to determine what was grown. As a result, wrecking the railroads in the south meant that many of them, as well as the civilians, were hungry. The army of grant destroyed everything including, transportation lines, homes, and civilians. To cut the supply of men power to the South he even ended the system of Prisoner- exchange.