World War I, also known as the Great War, is one of the deadliest and most destructive wars in history. Lasting from 1914 to 1918, World War I was characterized by skillfully fought battles and the newest military technology. Troops from both sides used trench warfare and advanced weapons such as machine guns and chemical weapons. Germany engaged in unrestricted submarine warfare against the Allied Powers, giving the Central Powers the advantage in the war.

Now that you know a little bit about World War I, look at the map below. The activity will help you locate the places on the globe that were affected by the war.

Scroll over each region listed below.

In response to Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare and threats of possible attacks, the United States joined the war in 1917 on the side of the Allied Powers. The American troops fought fiercely alongside their allies, helping them to secure a victory. By the end of the war in November 1918, there were more than 9 million people dead and another 20 million wounded. The war was brought to an official end with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

Watch the video and answer the following questions in your notes.

1. Why do you think it is called "The Great War"?

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   World War I is called the Great War because of the tremendous amount of destruction and death caused by the war.

2. What was life like in the trenches?

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   Life in the trenches was difficult because soldiers had to eat, sleep, and fight in the trenches.

The modern weaponry and technology were not the only significant features of the Great War. There was also the emergence of notable individuals during World War I that impacted the war. In this lesson, you will learn about significant individuals of World War I.