May 7: The Sinking of the Lusitania
Prayer Idea
Pray for countries engaged in warfare to protect the lives of noncombatants.
History Note
Conflict in Europe in 1914 quickly grew into a global conflict now known as World War I.
On February 4, 1915, Germany declared a zone of attack around the British Isles. It said that all ships were subject to attack without warning by German submarines (unterseebooten or U-boats). This was a major change from the traditional rules of war which allowed for safe passage of non-military vessels. President Woodrow Wilson warned Germany that it would be held accountable for any actions that harmed American ships and lives.
Three Americans died in two separate incidents in the spring of 1915. Then on May 7, 1915, German torpedoes sank the British passenger liner Lusitania off Ireland, with the loss of 1,198 lives including 124 Americans. Germany had issued warnings in the United States against traveling on the vessel. Despite these losses and despite Wilson’s warnings to Germany, many Americans still wanted to avoid involvement in the war.
Wilson sent a series of messages to Germany warning her of the consequences of continued aggression. The second of these notes was so strongly worded that Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigned out of fear that it would provoke a German declaration of war. Germany did, however, promise the safety of unarmed passenger liners.
The United States began a slow program of preparedness by strengthening the Army and Navy. However, when Wilson campaigned for re-election in 1916, he called on Americans to support him because he had kept the country out of war.
On February 1, 1917, Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare, revoking its earlier promise regarding passenger ships. In response, Wilson severed diplomatic ties with Germany. The revelation of the Zimmerman telegram was another factor that led to an American declaration of war against Germany on April 6, 1917.
This is the front page of the New York Times from May 8, 1915, the day after the sinking of the Lusitania. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
Learn More
This video looks at the Lusitania’s final voyage.
Find other resources at Homeschool History.
