why did so many battles on the western front lead to stalemates?

Answer 1

I agree with much of what the 2nd answerer has said. However, I'd like to add a few simple details.

The main reason was due to the development of Trench Warfare!!!!!

At the beginning of the war, both the Allies and the Central powers were using traditional tactics. Much like Napoleonic tactics, the two armies would line up across from one another and see who was left standing. The problem with this tactic is that militarism had grown to a whole new level. Weaponry was much more deadly. Some major developments being used, on a large scale, for the first time were:
1. machine guns (note: the peed on them to prevent overheating)
2. chemical weapons (poisonous gas)
3. Armor
4. Airplanes
5. Mortars
6. Mines

As a result, both sides resorted to establishing well defended trenches. Once the trenches were established, it was even more costly to find in the open. The area between the trenches (i.e. b/w the French and Germans) was known as NO-MANS-LAND, because no one would likely survive. Basically, neither side was experienced with the new warfare. Both were unwilling to launch an all-out offensive because the results could be disastrous.

You should read All Quiet on the Western Front. One of the greatest war novels ever written. There's also an awesome moving with the same title. I showed it in my high school social studies class a few times. The kids loved it.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Many reason accursed :

1) Advance of technology in some field was faster than in some other : Artillery, machine guns, and fortification technology were very advanced. Cannons and Machine guns would have been effective even today (and infact were used up to fifties..)
2) Offensive weapon were at their born: at beginning horse and trains were the only ways of movement, Cars and trucks were few and armored vehicles in experiment. Only in 1918 there were the first effective tanks (and infact the war changed)
3) There were MANY soldiers on a restricted front. West front, but also Italian-Austrian frontier was short, so the huge masses of millions of soldiers didn't have space for maneuvering. Infact were there was a larger space , as on east front, there were traditional battles, as the defeating of Russians at Tannenberg.
4) Tactics, especially on the allies side, was old, and remained practically the same of the same part of XIX century.

Answer 3

Because the most effective weapons were defensive ones - the machine gun and barbed wire. It wasn't until 1916 when tanks began to be used that there was any hope of movement

Answer 4

world war 1,, was mostly all trench warfare...which is a very good defensive position...but makes it hard to be offensive