--- title: "The First World War" description: "How rivalries, alliances and government decisions widened the crisis of 1914; why many trench attacks gained little ground; how civilians experienced the war; and how the 1919 settlement contributed t" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/history/the-first-world-war-mt_9-0GTkTf6b source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/history/the-first-world-war-mt_9-0GTkTf6b.md retrieved: 2026-11-12 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # The First World War How rivalries, alliances and government decisions widened the crisis of 1914; why many trench attacks gained little ground; how civilians experienced the war; and how the 1919 settlement contributed to later tensions. Subject: History · Area: The Modern World · Ages 14 to 16 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/history/the-first-world-war-mt_9-0GTkTf6b ## Ready when they can - Identify the assassination that triggered the 1914 crisis and explain how alliances and government decisions widened it - Describe trench warfare on the Western Front and explain why many attacks gained little ground - Describe home-front changes, including rationing, conscription and women's wartime employment, recognising that policies varied - Explain how resentment over the 1919 settlement contributed to later tensions without making another war inevitable ## Lesson: The First World War: causes, fighting and peace Rivalries between empires, growing armies and navies, and nationalist demands had raised tensions for years. These were underlying causes. On 28 June 1914, Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. The killing triggered a crisis between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. It did not make a world war unavoidable. Germany backed Austria-Hungary; Russia supported Serbia; France was allied with Russia. Mobilisation meant preparing armed forces for war. Governments chose mobilisation and war. Germany declared war on Russia and France and invaded neutral Belgium. Britain entered after that invasion, influenced by treaty obligations and fears of German dominance. Alliances helped widen the crisis; they did not order every country to fight. *(drawing: These selected dates show the crisis widening. Decisions made between them help explain why the war spread.)* On the Western Front, armies dug trenches for shelter. Between the lines was open ground called no man's land. Wire slowed attackers under machine-gun and artillery fire, so many attacks caused heavy losses for small gains. A long stalemate followed, but it did not cover every front or year. There was more movement on the Western Front in 1914 and 1918. Armies changed tactics and used new equipment, including tanks. The home front was civilian life and work supporting the war. Some governments rationed food, limiting how much people could buy. Many countries used conscription, compulsory military service. More women entered factories, transport and offices, though women had paid jobs before 1914. Policies varied by country and over time. Food, production and morale affected the war alongside battles and military decisions. *(drawing: Rationing limited purchases of certain foods. It did not mean that food shortages had ended.)* The armistice of 11 November 1918 stopped fighting on the Western Front. The Treaty of Versailles followed in 1919. It required Germany to pay reparations, payments for war damage, and give up territory and military strength. Germany and its allies were assigned responsibility for wartime losses as a basis for reparations. Many Germans resented the treaty. This contributed to later tensions; the settlement did not make another world war inevitable. The earlier lesson showed how empires drew on colonial labour and resources. In this war, soldiers, workers and supplies came from overseas territories. Troops from India and Africa served in Europe and elsewhere. Fighting reached Africa, the Middle East and the seas, and countries outside Europe joined. World war describes worldwide involvement. Total war describes directing civilian work, industry and resources towards fighting. **Recap.** Rivalries, alliances and government decisions widened the war. Fighting and civilian work reached beyond Europe. The settlement contributed to later tensions without making another war inevitable. *Lesson, questions and flashcards written for this dataset.* ## Practice 8 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Empire and Its Costs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/history/empire-and-its-costs-mt_i3Yw06vg5I) ## Optional connections - [Weighing Historical Causes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/history/weighing-historical-causes-mt_BjY92Ahl-S) ## Opens up - [The Second World War](https://lightmysky.com/learn/history/the-second-world-war-mt_BKXKdNc51v)