Click here to download Lesson #6 Worksheet before you begin!
Clear Target: What was the significance of the Lusitania to U.S. entry into WWI?
TASK #1: Background
The RMS Lusitania was a British passenger liner traveling from New York to Great Britain when she was struck on the side by a German U-boat's torpedo and sunk. After this happened, U.S. sentiment started to turn against Germany. Let's investigate why the sinking of the Lusitania had such an impact on changing U.S. attitudes towards Germany.
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TASK #2: Watch video and take notes.
TASK #3: Critical Thinking
Analyze evidence/Free-response. Below are images of bullets divers brought up from the wreck of the Lusitania, evidence she was carrying munitions at the time of her sinking as well as the warning given to passengers boarding ships bound to England. Given this, Do you think the Germans were right in sinking her? Why or why not? Also detail how the sinking of the Lusitania would have affected the citizens of the United States. Try to draw a similarity to incidents in today's world. Support your answer with details in a free-response using a Google document and share/email to me.
Wrapping it up:
End result: Unrestricted Submarine Warfare continues. The U.S. had gained a pledge from Germany in 1916 (the Sussex pledge) that Germany would not attack any merchant ships without warning and safety precautions provided for the passengers and crew. This helped Wilson secure his reelection in 1916 as the "candidate who kept the U.S. out of war." However, the Zimmerman telegram incident and the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany in 1917 caused the U.S. to declare war on Germany and enter WWI.
End result: Unrestricted Submarine Warfare continues. The U.S. had gained a pledge from Germany in 1916 (the Sussex pledge) that Germany would not attack any merchant ships without warning and safety precautions provided for the passengers and crew. This helped Wilson secure his reelection in 1916 as the "candidate who kept the U.S. out of war." However, the Zimmerman telegram incident and the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany in 1917 caused the U.S. to declare war on Germany and enter WWI.