What was the sinking of the Lusitania for kids?

What was the sinking of the Lusitania for kids?

The Lusitania was a famous British steamship of the early 1900s. A German submarine sank the Lusitania in the Atlantic Ocean during World War I. Almost 1,200 people died, including 128 U.S. citizens. A German submarine fired a torpedo that struck the ship.

How did America react to the sinking of the Lusitania?

As word spread about Lusitania’s tragic fate, so did the outrage. American citizens were saddened and stunned but not ready to rush to war. President Woodrow Wilson wanted to proceed with caution and remain neutral while former President Theodore Roosevelt demanded swift retaliation.

What did Germany say about the sinking of the Lusitania?

It was revealed that the Lusitania was carrying about 173 tons of war munitions for Britain, which the Germans cited as further justification for the attack. The United States eventually sent three notes to Berlin protesting the action, and Germany apologized and pledged to end unrestricted submarine warfare.

When the Lusitania went down song meaning?

“When the Lusitania Went Down” is a song about the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915. The American-owned, British-operated civilian passenger ship was sunk by a German submarine on its way to Great Britain, killing almost 1,200 people, including 128 Americans.

Did Germany sink the Lusitania?

One hundred years ago, on May 7, 1915, the Cunard luxury liner Lusitania was sunk by a German torpedo off the Irish coast. It was the fastest, most luxurious passenger ship ever to have sailed the seas and, like the Titanic, was believed to be invulnerable.

Why did Germany bomb the Lusitania?

It was revealed that the Lusitania was carrying about 173 tons of war munitions for Britain, which the Germans cited as further justification for the attack. The United States eventually protested the action, and Germany apologized and pledged to end unrestricted submarine warfare.

What caused the US to enter ww1?

The United States later declared war on German ally Austria-Hungary on December 7, 1917. Germany’s resumption of submarine attacks on passenger and merchant ships in 1917 became the primary motivation behind Wilson’s decision to lead the United States into World War I.

How many miles off the Irish coast was the Lusitania when it was attacked?

Objections were made by the British that threatening to torpedo all ships indiscriminately was wrong, whether it was announced in advance or not. On the afternoon of 7 May, a German U-boat torpedoed Lusitania 11 miles (18 km) off the southern coast of Ireland inside the declared war zone.

Did Britain doom the Lusitania?

The British government vehemently denied the latter charge, knowing that the sinking of a non-military ship with the loss of almost 1,200 lives was a useful means of swaying American opinion in favour of entering the war.

Who said remember the Lusitania?

There were plenty of composers and lyricists waiting to lend their voices to the struggle. On June 27, 1917, just 2 months after we entered the war on April 6, Jess Sechrist copyrighted “Remember the Lusitania” (Harrisburg, PA: Sanpan Music, 1917), which is in many ways very different from Wall’s composition.

What happened to the RMS Lusitania?

The RMS Lusitania had recently departed New York when it was fatally torpedoed by a German U-boat. Unknown to the passengers on board, however, were 173 tons of weaponry bound for war. Just three years following the sinking of the Titanic, there was another tragedy in the Atlantic: the 1915 sinking of the RMS Lusitania.

Who was on board the Lusitania when it launched?

Additionally, a British detective named William Pierpoint was assigned to board the Lusitania covertly to scope for potential German agents in hiding. He did apprehend three such agents the day the ship launched.

Did the British spy unit in Room 40 sink the Lusitania?

Larson’s research has led him to believe that the British intelligence unit in Room 40 orchestrated a cover-up for the ship’s sinking by blaming it on the Lusitania ’s captain in order to preserve its espionage program.

Why was the Lusitania considered an enemy vessel?

The Germans maintained that despite also carrying citizens, the Lusitania was carrying weapons of war, which made her an enemy vessel. The United Kingdom subsequently saw a groundswell of anti-German sentiment.