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On May 1, 1915, the Cunard liner RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat. The sinking claimed the lives of 1,198 passengers and crew, 128 of them American citizens. The loss of life and the American deaths, in particular, outraged the U.S. public and helped turn public opinion against Germany.
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Introduction
The sinking of the Lusitania was a turning point in World War 1. The sinking of the Lusitania was a British passenger liner that was sunk by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915. The sinking of the Lusitania resulted in the death of 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. The sinking of the Lusitania outraged American public opinion and helped turn the United States against Germany. The United States declared war on Germany in April 1917.
The Lusitania’s Role in World War I
On May 7, 1915, the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland, killing 1,198 passengers and crew. The sinking turned public opinion in several countries against Germany, and was a major factor in the United States deciding to enter World War I on the side of Britain, France, and Russia.
At the time of her sinking, the Lusitania was carrying munitions and other war supplies from New York to Britain. Germany had declared the waters around Britain to be a war zone, and warned that all ships travelling there did so at their own risk. Despite this warning, the Lusitania was not armed and did not attempt to evade the German submarine. The resulting public outrage helped shift international opinion against Germany.
Within two years of the Lusitania’s sinking, the United States had entered World War I on the side of Britain, France, and Russia. The sinking also helped turn public opinion in Canada against Germany.
The Lusitania as a Target
The Lusitania was not an American ship, but an English one. But it was carrying American passengers, and Wilson was committed to keeping Americans out of the war. Theknew the Lusitania would be carrying munitions, but also that it would have civilians on board, including women and children.
The sinking of the Lusitania turned public opinion in the United States against Germany. Before the sinking, many people in the United States were opposed to getting involved in the war. After the sinking, support for war started to grow. In May 1915, Wilson had sent a message to Germany asking them to stop attacking ships like the Lusitania. The Germans agreed to stop, but only if England stopped attacking German ships and stopped blockade of Germany. The British did not agree to these terms.
In 1917, after further attacks on American ships and news that Germany was trying to get Mexico to attack the United States, Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. The United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917.”
The Aftermath of the Sinking
On May 7, 1915, the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland. The ship went down in just 18 minutes, and 1,198 of the 1,959 people on board were killed.
The sinking of the Lusitania was a turning point in public opinion in the United States about World War I. Prior to the sinking, many Americans had been content to stay out of the conflict that was raging in Europe. But after witnessing such a brutal act of warfare, public opinion began to turn against Germany.
In May 1917, shortly after the United States entered World War I on the side of the Allies, Congress passed the Espionage Act. This law made it a crime to interfere with military operations or to promote insubordination in the armed forces. It also made it illegal to make false statements about the government or the war effort. The Sedition Act, passed later that year, went even further, making it a crime to criticize the government or attempt to stir up opposition to wartime measures.
The Espionage and Sedition Acts were used to silence dissent and jail those who dared to speak out against American involvement in World War I. In total, more than 2,000 people were arrested and charged under these laws. The First Amendment right to freedom of speech was effectively suspended during this time period.
The sinking of the Lusitania thus played a significant role in defining civil liberties in America and paving the way for increased government control over citizens during times of war.
The Significance of the Lusitania Today
On May 1, 1915, the British ocean liner Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat, killing more than 1,000 passengers and crew. The tragedy shocked the world and helped rally public opinion in the United States against Germany.
In the years since, the Lusitania has become synonymous with the horrors of war and the indiscriminate killing of civilians. The sinking also played a role in the U.S. entry into World War I. Today, the wreck of the Lusitania is a popular scuba diving destination and a powerful symbol of the futility of war.
