RoughRomanMemes

Explanation: In pre-industrial societies, the phenomenon of a 'total war' is fairly rare. The notion of a 'total war', wherein the nation has thrown itself into the conflict, effectively requires broad interest of the masses in the war, and the ability of the polity to marshal them effectively. With the rise of nationalism, post-agrarian societies, and communications technology, this became easier on both counts.

Notably, the 2nd Punic War (between Rome and Carthage) and the Wars of the Coalition (between France and almost every other European nation) are sometimes considered pre-industrial 'total wars' in this vein.

A full fifth of the adult Roman male citizen body died during the 2nd Punic War - and not because the citizen body was proportionally small - tens-of-thousands of troops died in a polity that did not rule over much more than a million people. Carthage and the Roman Republic were locked into a struggle where both realized their interests - and grudges - were so deeply entrenched that any defeat would spell the effective end of the polity. And as flawed as the mid-Republic was, it could still count on the common citizenry to fight to preserve it. The Roman Republic would eventually demand everyone serve from criminals to slaves, claiming the right to the wealth of the rich, even down to personal jewelry, and relocating entire communities according to war necessity. Rome would win the war, after ~20 years, due to its immense resolve and mental-sickness-level tenacity.

Revolutionary France provides an even 'purer' example of total war, with the levee en masse and associated measures:

1. Henceforth, until the enemies have been driven from the territory of the republic, the French people are in permanent requisition for army service. The young men shall go to battle; the married men shall forge arms and transport provision; the women shall make tents and clothes, and shall serve in the hospitals; the children shall turn old linen into lint; the old men shall repair to the public places, to stimulate the courage of the warriors and preach the unity of the Republic and hatred of kings

2. National buildings shall be converted into barracks; public places into armament workshops; the soil of cellars shall be washed in lye to extract saltpeter therefrom.

All in the name of preserving the French Revolution, which preached the rights of all men, not just nobles and kings. They won the First War of the Coalition with that sense of unity.

And the War of the Triple Alliance with Paraguay? Uh...

... a dictator started shit with his larger neighbors, dragged his whole country into it, and got the literal fucking majority of the population killed in the process - himself included.

... they did not win.