Final answer:
Soldiers resorted to trench warfare due to powerful defensive weapons which made offensive moves costly. Morale was negatively affected by the dire conditions in the trenches and the frequent, futile charges ordered against impregnable enemy lines, leaving soldiers feeling dismayed and hopeless.
Step-by-step explanation:
Soldiers had to use trench warfare due to the advent of new military technologies. The power of defensive weapons such as machine guns and artillery made offensive strategies extremely costly. Armies dug extensive networks of trenches to protect themselves from enemy fire. Trenches spanned from the English Channel to the Swiss Alps, becoming makeshift homes for soldiers.
The moral effects of trench warfare were profound and deeply negative. The living conditions were brutal, with soldiers often standing in over a foot of mud, enduring cold, rain, and the constant threat of artillery and poison gas attacks. The command 'over the top' became synonymous with near-certain death, as it required soldiers to leave the relative safety of their trenches and charge into a no man's land riddled with enemy fire.
As a consequence, soldiers' morale was severely impacted. They faced a reality where bravery and skill often mattered less than luck. With troops being slaughtered during assaults and living in constant fear, the despair and sense of futility permeated the trenches. Experiences in the trenches left soldiers disillusioned, fostering a sense of hopelessness that made escaping the trenches seem like an impossible dream.