Final answer:
The sinking of the Lusitania played a significant role in the United States' entry into World War I. It sparked public outrage and prompted the U.S. to abandon its neutrality stance. However, other factors would likely have led to U.S. involvement in the war even if the Lusitania had not been sunk.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sinking of the Lusitania was one of the factors that led the United States to ultimately enter World War I. The Lusitania, a British passenger ship, was sunk by a German submarine in 1915, resulting in the deaths of 128 Americans. This event created outrage among the American public and put pressure on the U.S. government to take action against Germany.
Prior to the sinking, the United States had maintained a policy of neutrality in the war. However, the sinking of the Lusitania, along with other German actions such as the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare, pushed the U.S. to abandon its neutral stance and join the Allied Powers in the war against Germany and its allies.
While it is impossible to say with certainty what would have happened if the Lusitania had not been sunk, it is likely that the United States would still have been drawn into the war eventually due to other factors such as Germany's aggression and the impact of the war on American interests.
Learn more about U.S. entry into World War I