Question

What is most likely the reason the author included information about the sinking of the Lusitania?

1) To provide historical context
2) To highlight the dangers of ocean travel
3) To discuss the impact on international relations
4) To analyze the role of technology in warfare

Answer 1

The sinking of the Lusitania is likely discussed to highlight its impact on international relations, especially how it influenced the U.S. stance towards World War I and increased tension between neutral and belligerent countries.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely reason the author included information about the sinking of the Lusitania is to discuss the impact on international relations. The attack by a German U-boat on the British passenger ship RMS Lusitania on May 7, 1915, led to the death of over 1,200 civilians, including 128 American citizens. This event significantly shifted American sentiment and was a crucial factor in testing President Wilson's commitment to neutrality during World War I. Moreover, the sinking became an international incident which galvanized support for the war against Germany and affected subsequent diplomatic engagements. While providing historical context and demonstrating the dangers of ocean travel during wartime, the primary focus is on the broader political ramifications, particularly between the United States, which had maintained a position of neutrality, and the belligerent nations engaged in World War I.