The sinking of the ocean liner RMS Lusitania .
Britain prevented any supplies from getting to Germany by sea in WW1, the sinking of supply ships heading for Britain was the only way Germany could retaliate. The fact that some of those ships were American was incidental.
resumed submarine warfare against neutral shipping
Relations between the US and Germany were very strained as a result of the German policy of unstrestricted submarine warfare. In 1915 the sinking of the Lusitania played a key role in turning opinion in the US against Germany. In 1916 an attack on the Sussex resulted in Germany giving a solemn pledge not to attack pssanger vessels. However, a year later, Germany revoked this pledge. There was also the Zimmermann telegram.
The RMS Lusitania and the loss of 1,198 of her passengers and crew on 7 May 1915.
The sinking of the ocean liner RMS Lusitania .
The sinking of the ocean liner RMS Lusitania.
In the Great War, American public opinion turned against Germany following persistent attacks by submarines on merchant shipping. The most notorious sinking was that of the passenger steamer RMS Lusitania on 7 May 1915 when 1198 out of 1959 passengers and crew were killed. The RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner, and was was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat.
The sinking of the Lusitania on May 7, 1915, significantly swayed American public opinion against Germany, as the British ocean liner was sunk by a German U-boat, resulting in the deaths of 128 Americans. This incident fueled anti-German sentiment and raised concerns about maritime safety and unrestricted submarine warfare. Although the U.S. did not enter World War I immediately after the sinking, it intensified calls for action against Germany, ultimately contributing to the U.S. decision to join the war in 1917.
Britain prevented any supplies from getting to Germany by sea in WW1, the sinking of supply ships heading for Britain was the only way Germany could retaliate. The fact that some of those ships were American was incidental.
it carried American citizens
it carried American citizens
The sinking of the Maine was the event that definitely convinced the US public opinion to push in favor of the war against Spain. The USS Maine battleship was blown up in Havana, Cuba harbor. Spanish sabotage was suspected.
war against Spain
One significant event that contributed to America's entry into World War I was the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in May 1915 by a German U-boat, which resulted in the deaths of 128 American passengers. Additionally, the interception of the Zimmermann Telegram in early 1917, in which Germany proposed a military alliance with Mexico against the United States, further inflamed American public opinion against Germany. These incidents, combined with ongoing unrestricted submarine warfare, ultimately led to the U.S. declaring war on Germany in April 1917.
President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany in April 1917 primarily due to Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare, which threatened American lives and commerce. The sinking of ships like the Lusitania and the continued attacks on American vessels inflamed public opinion and raised concerns about national security. Additionally, Wilson aimed to make the world "safe for democracy," believing that U.S. involvement was essential for a just peace and to counteract autocratic regimes.
After the sinking of the Maine Americans favored war with Spain. President McKinley had tried to avoid the war for many months but he had to go with public opinion after the sinking of the Maine.