The orders were to take everything that they can, and burn and ruin everything that they can't take. The idea was to destroy infrastructure completely so as to weaken the southern population and the southern support for the war. They would burn farms and pillage everything leaving nothing standing.
They were created to finance endeavors that were far too expensive for individuals to invest in and even governments to fund.
hope that helps!
Treatment of Native Americans i believe
Today's 'democracy' is more of a republic than anything. In ancient Greece, every citizen got a direct and equal vote, by casting stones into the pile that signified which side they were on. In today's democracy, the people don't get that much say