Question

poking the eagle... german u - boats were very good at what they did - sink ships. us trade ships were being sunk and though this made americans angry - it wasnt enough to push them into war. it helped as president wilson ran for re - election in 1916 on a slogan of, “keeping us out of the war” - which helped him to win. but the u - boats are going to sink the wrong ship which could lead to a critical mistake: 14. what was the lusitania and why did its sinking cause such a controversy in america? 15. president wilson still wanted the us to stay neutral - why do you think wilson wanted to go against the american people on this?

Explanation:

1. The Lusitania was a British - owned ocean - liner. Its sinking by a German U - boat on May 7, 1915, caused controversy in America because it carried 128 American passengers who were killed. This event inflamed anti - German sentiment in the US as Americans saw it as an unjustified attack on non - combatants.
2. Wilson wanted the US to stay neutral likely because he believed in avoiding the destruction and loss of life associated with war. He may have also hoped to play a mediating role in the conflict and thought that staying out initially would preserve the US's economic and diplomatic interests.

Answer:

1. The Lusitania was a British ocean - liner. Its sinking caused controversy as it killed 128 American passengers, fueling anti - German sentiment.
2. Wilson wanted neutrality to avoid war's destruction, play a mediating role, and preserve US interests.