World War One
Definition
World War One, also known as the Great War, 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 the United Kingdom) and the Central Powers (mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey).
Analogy
Think of World War One like an intense game of dodgeball in gym class. The teams are set (Allies vs Central Powers), tensions rise over disagreements (political/military conflicts), and then someone throws a ball too hard (assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand). Suddenly everyone is involved in this chaotic battle.
Related terms
Triple Entente: This was a military alliance between France, Russia, and Britain that formed a counterweight to the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy during World War I.
Trench Warfare: A type of combat in which opposing troops fight from trenches facing each other. This was one of the defining features of World War I.
Armistice: An agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; essentially a truce. The Armistice on November 11th 1918 marked the end of fighting in WWI.
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