On May 7, 1915, the RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. 128 Americans were killed, which enraged many Americans considering the United States was neutral at the time. Tensions started to rise between the United States and Germany. The turning point of World War I was when the German torpedoed and sank the RMS Lusitania that was carrying American citizens. This event prompted US involvement angering many Americans as well. When the United States joined the war, it ended the stalemate by providing the Allies with numerical and economical superiorities.
Before US involvement, the war in Europe was resulted in a stalemate because of trench warfare. Trench warfare caused combatants to be easily exposed to artillery fire. “In early April, 1917, the United States, angered by Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare(under which it sank ships of belligerents and non-belligerents alike) entered the conflict on the side of the Allies. This revitalization of allied manpower, together with the cumalative effects of a British blockade of shipping in and out of German ports, brought Germany to its knees.”(The World in the 20th Century, 57). The author of the textbook argues that the involvement of the US in the war caused Germany to give up.
In 1915 the British ship, the Lusitania, was sunk by German submarines, which got the US to join the war. The US proclaimed that they would stay out of the war and remain neutral and this all changed because American cargo ships were beginning to be targeted and searched. Public opinion began to dwindle gradually in response to atrocities in Belgium. There was little support to join the war on Germany’s side. The German authorities violated American rights on high seas attacking cargo ships bound for Europe. "On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania...torpedoed by German U boats...Over 100 Americans died. Americans felt that German actions were unacceptable and needed to be acted upon" (Wilson). This document seems to convince readers because it is outlining the reasonings behind US involvement. “The United States claimed the Lusitania carried an innocent cargo... torpedoing was a monstrous atrocity... the Lusitania was heavily armed: it carried 1,248 cases of 3-inch shells, 4,927 boxes of cartridges...manifests were falsified to hide this fact, and the British and American governments lied about the cargo.”(Zinn, 362). Zinn’s argument isn't that convincing even though he does explain exactly what was on the cargo ship at the time, but the only thing he doesn’t do is explain if the ship had posed an actual threat or not. US involvement was caused by the sinking of the Lusitania and there were many arguments that stated the sinking of the Lusitania was a big conspiracy giving the US a reason to join the war. Patrick Beesly concluded: "..unless and until fresh information comes to light, I am reluctantly driven to the conclusion that there was a conspiracy deliberately to put the Lusitania at risk in the hope that even an abortive attack on her would bring the United States into the war..." The result of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania was believed to be caused by the British and falsified as the Germans fault which angered the United States giving them a reason to enter on the British side. Even though there are many arguments against and for the conspiracy arguments, the sinking of the RMS Lusitania was the reason why the US felt the need to join the war.
The sinking of the Lusitania prompted the US to join World War I. After the involvement of the US, the stalemate ended because the Allies were provided numerical and economical superiorities by the United States. After the Lusitania, the home front saw a systematic mobilization of the population along with the economy as well to help produce the necessities for the soldiers in the war. Both sides were very low on ammunition along with food rations as well. The British government argued that soldiers were wasting ammunition, but in reality the war was unlike any war anybody had fought in so that wasn’t really the case.
World War ended because of the United States involvement. Once the U.S. joined the war the tables turned and the Allies gained momentum. The Allies were able to win the war and defeat Germany. German land was taken away which angered them and led to World War II.
Before US involvement, the war in Europe was resulted in a stalemate because of trench warfare. Trench warfare caused combatants to be easily exposed to artillery fire. “In early April, 1917, the United States, angered by Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare(under which it sank ships of belligerents and non-belligerents alike) entered the conflict on the side of the Allies. This revitalization of allied manpower, together with the cumalative effects of a British blockade of shipping in and out of German ports, brought Germany to its knees.”(The World in the 20th Century, 57). The author of the textbook argues that the involvement of the US in the war caused Germany to give up.
In 1915 the British ship, the Lusitania, was sunk by German submarines, which got the US to join the war. The US proclaimed that they would stay out of the war and remain neutral and this all changed because American cargo ships were beginning to be targeted and searched. Public opinion began to dwindle gradually in response to atrocities in Belgium. There was little support to join the war on Germany’s side. The German authorities violated American rights on high seas attacking cargo ships bound for Europe. "On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania...torpedoed by German U boats...Over 100 Americans died. Americans felt that German actions were unacceptable and needed to be acted upon" (Wilson). This document seems to convince readers because it is outlining the reasonings behind US involvement. “The United States claimed the Lusitania carried an innocent cargo... torpedoing was a monstrous atrocity... the Lusitania was heavily armed: it carried 1,248 cases of 3-inch shells, 4,927 boxes of cartridges...manifests were falsified to hide this fact, and the British and American governments lied about the cargo.”(Zinn, 362). Zinn’s argument isn't that convincing even though he does explain exactly what was on the cargo ship at the time, but the only thing he doesn’t do is explain if the ship had posed an actual threat or not. US involvement was caused by the sinking of the Lusitania and there were many arguments that stated the sinking of the Lusitania was a big conspiracy giving the US a reason to join the war. Patrick Beesly concluded: "..unless and until fresh information comes to light, I am reluctantly driven to the conclusion that there was a conspiracy deliberately to put the Lusitania at risk in the hope that even an abortive attack on her would bring the United States into the war..." The result of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania was believed to be caused by the British and falsified as the Germans fault which angered the United States giving them a reason to enter on the British side. Even though there are many arguments against and for the conspiracy arguments, the sinking of the RMS Lusitania was the reason why the US felt the need to join the war.
The sinking of the Lusitania prompted the US to join World War I. After the involvement of the US, the stalemate ended because the Allies were provided numerical and economical superiorities by the United States. After the Lusitania, the home front saw a systematic mobilization of the population along with the economy as well to help produce the necessities for the soldiers in the war. Both sides were very low on ammunition along with food rations as well. The British government argued that soldiers were wasting ammunition, but in reality the war was unlike any war anybody had fought in so that wasn’t really the case.
World War ended because of the United States involvement. Once the U.S. joined the war the tables turned and the Allies gained momentum. The Allies were able to win the war and defeat Germany. German land was taken away which angered them and led to World War II.
"Digital History." Digital History. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2014. <http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3897>.
BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2014. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/summary_01.shtml>.
PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/lostliners/lusitania.html>.
"The Lusitania." The Lusitania. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/lusitania.htm>.
BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2014. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/summary_01.shtml>.
PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/lostliners/lusitania.html>.
"The Lusitania." The Lusitania. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/lusitania.htm>.