Lusitania

Definition

The Lusitania was a British ocean liner that was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat during World War I, resulting in the deaths of over 1,100 people, including 128 American citizens. This event was a significant factor in the United States' eventual entry into the war against Germany.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Lusitania was a British ocean liner that was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915, off the coast of Ireland, resulting in the deaths of over 1,100 people, including 128 American citizens.
2. The sinking of the Lusitania was a significant factor in the United States' eventual entry into World War I, as it outraged American public opinion and increased support for intervention against Germany.
3. Germany's policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, which led to the sinking of the Lusitania, was a major factor in the deterioration of U.S.-German relations and contributed to the U.S. declaration of war against Germany in 1917.
4. The Lusitania was carrying a large cargo of ammunition and other war materials, which the German government claimed justified the attack, though this was disputed by the British government.
5. The sinking of the Lusitania and the subsequent public outcry in the United States led to increased pressure on the Wilson administration to take a more active role in the European conflict.

Review Questions

• Explain how the sinking of the Lusitania contributed to the United States' decision to enter World War I.
  • The sinking of the Lusitania, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,100 people, including 128 American citizens, was a significant factor in the deterioration of U.S.-German relations and the eventual U.S. entry into World War I. The public outrage in the United States over the attack on a civilian passenger ship increased pressure on the Wilson administration to take a more active role in the European conflict, ultimately leading to the U.S. declaration of war against Germany in 1917. The Lusitania incident, combined with other factors such as the Zimmermann Telegram, helped shift American public opinion in favor of intervention, paving the way for the U.S. to join the Allied powers.
• Describe the German policy of unrestricted submarine warfare and how it contributed to the sinking of the Lusitania.
  • The German policy of unrestricted submarine warfare involved the sinking of any ship, including passenger and merchant vessels, within the designated war zones around the British Isles. This strategy was a major factor in the deterioration of U.S.-German relations and the eventual U.S. entry into World War I. The sinking of the Lusitania, a British ocean liner carrying a large cargo of ammunition and other war materials, was justified by the German government under this policy, despite the loss of over 1,100 lives, including 128 American citizens. The Lusitania incident outraged American public opinion and increased support for intervention against Germany, ultimately contributing to the U.S. declaration of war in 1917.
• Analyze the role of the Neutrality Acts in the context of the Lusitania incident and the United States' eventual entry into World War I.
  • The Neutrality Acts, a series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress in the 1930s, aimed to keep the country out of foreign wars by restricting trade and travel to nations engaged in armed conflict. However, the sinking of the Lusitania, a British ocean liner carrying American passengers, challenged the effectiveness of these laws and the U.S. policy of neutrality. The Lusitania incident, combined with other factors such as the Zimmermann Telegram, increased public support for intervention against Germany, ultimately leading the Wilson administration to seek a more active role in the European conflict. The Neutrality Acts, while intended to maintain American isolationism, were ultimately unable to prevent the United States' entry into World War I, as the country's interests and public opinion shifted in response to events like the Lusitania tragedy.

Related terms

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: A German naval strategy during World War I that involved the sinking of any ship, including passenger and merchant vessels, within the designated war zones around the British Isles.

Zimmermann Telegram:

A secret diplomatic communication from the German government to Mexico, proposing a military alliance against the United States in the event of the U.S. entering World War I.

Neutrality Acts:

A series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress in the 1930s that aimed to keep the country out of foreign wars by restricting trade and travel to nations engaged in armed conflict.