sinking of the Lusitania: US History 1877-present (EOC) 🌐 Ver en Español

• The Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat, killing 128 Americans.
• The event happened in 1915, after World War I began in 1914.
• The U.S. was trying to remain neutral before and after the sinking.
• President Woodrow Wilson asked Germany to stop attacking ships.
• The American public was angry after the attack.

EXTENDING THE DISCUSSION
After the observational question, randomly call on one or more students to share what they or their partner answered. Then ask the class, “Did anyone notice…?” using the suggestions above or anything else you’ve noticed.

• Why was the Lusitania attacked if the U.S. was neutral?
• Did the sinking directly cause the U.S. to enter the war?
• Why didn’t the U.S. go to war immediately after the Lusitania was sunk?
• What was Germany's response to Wilson’s demand?
• How did this incident affect public opinion in the U.S.?

EXTENDING THE DISCUSSION
After students have shared what they notice, ask the class, “Did anyone wonder…?” using the suggestions above or anything else you might think is interesting or relevant to the lesson.

To the observational question, What happened when the Lusitania was sunk?

LOW-LEVEL

When the Lusitania was sunk, 128 Americans died.

HIGH-LEVEL

When the Lusitania was sunk, it caused outrage in the United States and increased pressure on President Wilson to respond to German aggression.

RESPONDING TO RESPONSES
Emphasize and celebrate each student’s use of the key vocabulary to support a culture of “no wrong answers.”