How did the submarine change society?

Answer 1

Early submarines had no effect on society whatsoever, as the first ones were built several hundred years ago. Even then, they weren't considered an honorable form of naval warfare, and the first submarine used in combat (Turtle, Revolutionary War) never amounted to much.

It wasn't until the Civil War and the sinking of the USS Housatonic in Charleston Harbor by the submarine H.L. Hunley that navies finally took notice. By the end of the century, the U.S. Navy had received its first modern submarine from pioneer John Phillip Holland, of Electric Boat fame. His designs were improved upon, but others followed in his footsteps with submarine technology. During WWI, the Germans proved to the world that the submarine was a viable military threat that had to be dealt with.

Arguably the biggest impact of the submarine on society outside the Housatonic was the sinking of the British passenger liner RMS Lusitania, which carried both British and American passengers. Many of the dead were children and luminaries of the day; the Lusitania's sinking is what brought submarine warfare to the forefront of society.

Answer 2

Submarines changed war. They played a big part of World War I and II.