Joseph McNeill Dr. D. Bennett English II Honors 6 February 2015 Chemical Warfare Chemical warfare has been used since World War I, and it still being used today by countries all over the world. The idea of chemical warfare is that it can be deadly in short amounts and can be largely produced cheaply. Chemical warfare is a very harsh and painful type of warfare because when it affects people it can cause them to die, not be able to see permanently, and some affect peoples nervous system. The US military defines chemical warfare agents as “chemical substances that are intended for use during military operations to kill, seriously injure, or incapacitate a person through its physiological effects.” Chemical weapons are either gas, liquid, or …show more content…
to get revenge, the Spartans attempted to throw burning sulfur pitch over the walls around the Athens The Spartans were hoping that the toxic smoke would fill the city. During the 19th and 20th centuries, countries started developing poisonous gases and toxins. In April 1915, Allied troops were attacked near Ypres, Belgium by Germany with chlorine gas. The Allies then started using gases, they used Mustard gas. By the end of WWI, over 90,000 soldiers were blinded for life. In 1925, the League of Nations composed the Geneva Protocol. The Geneva Protocol banned chemicals from being used in the war. Most nations signed the agreement. The United States waited to sign the agreement until 1975. Unfortunately the Geneva Protocol did not end the use of chemical warfare. The Nazis did not use gases on the battlefield but did use them in concentration camps to kill prisoners. For many years after Geneva Protocol was signed countries still continued making chemical weapons. The Geneva Protocol only banned the use of chemical weapons during the war but did not say that countries could not make …show more content…
Syria uses chemical weapons such as mustard gas. “I do not believe the United States will use any chemical weapons of mass destruction”(Singleton, Int.). The United States has Tear gas, it causes people to have trouble breathing and causes the eyes to burn. It is not leathal. The United States controls McNeill 5 their chemical weapons very well. The United States has the capability to develop chemical weapons if needed (Singleton, Int.). McNeill 6 Works Cited Gilbert, Steven. "Chemical Weapons." 9 June 2014. Web. <www.toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/chemical weapons>. Harmon, Daniel E. C hemical and Biological Weapons. Rosen Group, 2009. Print. Kiesbye, Stefan. B iological and Chemical Warfare. Green Haven, 2010. Print. Maass, Harold. "A Brief History Of Chemical Warfare." 1 Jan. 2013. Web. <w ww.theweek.com> . Mauroni, Al. C hemical and Biological Warfare. ABCCLIO, 2007. Print. Schneider, Barry R. "Chemical Weapon." 1 Jan. 2015. Web. <w ww.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/10895/chemicalweapon> . Singleton, CSM Mke. "Interview." (2015). McNeill 7