5. The Sinking of the Lusitania
In 1915, Germany’s decision to implement unrestricted submarine warfare led to the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, a British ocean liner, on May 7. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, including 128 Americans. This incident significantly shifted international opinion, intensifying anti-German sentiment and bringing the United States closer to involvement in World War I. The event underscored the dangers of unrestricted submarine warfare and its potential to provoke neutral nations. (Smithsonian Magazine)
