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World War 1

Definition

World War I was a global conflict that took place from 1914 to 1918. It involved many of the world's leading powers divided into two opposing alliances: the Allies (including France, Russia, and United Kingdom) and Central Powers (including Germany, Austria-Hungary).

Analogy

Imagine World War I as a massive schoolyard fight where different groups of friends (Allies and Central Powers) are fighting against each other due to various disagreements. The fight gets so out of hand that even those who didn't want to get involved initially end up taking sides.

Related terms

Trench Warfare: A type of combat in which opposing troops fight from trenches facing each other. This was a common method used during World War I.

Armistice: An agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; essentially a ceasefire. The Armistice on November 11th, 1918 marked the end of WWI.

Imperialism: A policy or ideology by which a nation extends its power by acquiring territories. It can also include the exploitation of these territories for economic gain. Imperial rivalries were one cause of WWI.