Outline of war

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/outline-of-war

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the formal definition of war?Organized, often prolonged, armed conflict carried out by states or non-state actors
2. What is the defining characteristics?Extreme violence, social disruption, and economic destruction
3. Why do people start wars?People start wars when they want things like land, money, or ideas, and they think fighting is the only way to get what they want. It often happens after talks fail and tensions grow.
4. Who can start a war?War can be started by countries that have armies and leaders, or by organized groups that are not part of a country. Both can decide to use weapons to try to win.

Political communities: Organized groups of people bound by a common political structure or governance, often states.
Non-state actors: Organized groups that are not sovereign states but possess significant military or political power.
Social disruption: The breakdown of established social structures, norms, and daily life due to conflict.