18 Minutes That Shocked the World: The Sinking of the Lusitania

This short article from the Imperial War Museums tells the story of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915. While the loss of life (nearly 1,200 deaths, including 128 American citizens, out of almost 2,000 passengers) is often cited as the cause for turning American sentiments against Germany in the war, IWM provides an overview of the complicated situation and why it should not be viewed as the sole, direct cause of America entering the war.