Question

President wilson's response to the sinking of the lusitania:

a. was to sever diplomatic ties with germany
b. included a speech in which he said that if germany was responsible for the killing of any more americans, a state of war would exist between the united states and germany
c. was conciliatory
d. was a series of angry demands that germany stop such actions and pay reparations
e. was to ask congress immediately to declare war

Answer 1

President Wilson's response to the Lusitania's sinking remained neutral at first, but increasingly hostile actions by Germany eventually led to the breakup of diplomatic relations and a war message to Congress.

Step-by-step explanation:

President Woodrow Wilson's response to the sinking of the Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915 was measured and intended to maintain American neutrality. Despite the loss of 128 American lives, Wilson's initial reaction did not involve severing diplomatic ties with Germany or demanding reparations. It was not until the German Navy resumed unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram was intercepted, which proposed a German-Mexican alliance against the United States, that Wilson's stance hardened. In February 1917, after a series of aggressive submarine attacks on American merchant ships, Wilson broke off diplomatic relations with Germany. By April of that year, the situation escalated further, prompting President Wilson to deliver a war message to Congress, ultimately leading to a declaration of war on April 4, 1917.

Answer 2

The correct answer is C.

Wilson tried his best to maintain a policy of neutrality at the beginning of World War I. However, after the Lusitania was sunk and over 100 innocent Americans were killed, he knew action must be taken.

In response to the sinking of this ship, Wilson wrote several letters to the German government. In these letters, Wilson demanded that Germany stop their use of unrestricted submarine warfare. Wilson wrote this in hopes that Germany would not sink anymore ships with US citizens on it. Germany complied for a short period of time, but resumed these actions less than a year later. This is one of several different factors as to why the US entered World War I.