Who is Responsible for the Sinking of the Lusitania?

1. Who is Responsible for the Sinking of the Lusitania? Mr. Rolland

2. The Lusitania was a British cruise liner on a routinely scheduled trip between New York and London New York (1915) London (1915)

3. During this same time WWI raged on…

4. WWI Alliance System Allies (Triple Entente) Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire • Britain • France • Russia • NOTICE: The United States of America is officially Neutral in the year 1915

5. The German’s introduce new Submarine technology during the war and use it to defend against and attack British Ships

6. Back to the Lusitania… on the 7th day of May 1915 the ship was carrying nearly 2,000 passengers There is only one problem…It was spotted by a German U-boat off the coast off Ireland… The Germans torpedoed the Lusitania

7. This seems logical because the Germans are at war with the British

8. One torpedo and two explosions later, the Lusitania was officially a victim of a German U-Boat Lusitania Sinking Facts 1 torpedo was fired 2 explosions occurred The gigantic ship sank in 15 minutes 1195 people Perished Of those 1195, 128 were Americans

9. Aftermath… Germany is guilty in the court of public opinion Germany Open and Shut Case! • Murdered 1195 civilians • Committed a war crime • Changed the rules of warfare by targeting civilians • Americans and most people around the world denounced the attack and public support of the WWI effort went to the allies

10. Or is it really an open and shut case???

11. The Germans claim that this was no passenger ship • The “neutral” Americans were supplying weapons to the British by using the passengers on the ship as a human shield • Germans warned the British that any hostile ship in the British Isles would be targeted • Germans warned the British that they would partake in “unrestricted submarine warfare” • Warned the British that the Lusitania would be targeted if it disembarked • Despite these warnings, the ship still sailed

12. Germans (continued) German Flag, circa 1915 The Germans also believed The Americans were deceptive in claiming to be neutral while supplying an enemy of war with arms The second explosion heard by many passengers was the result of the munitions onboard exploding, thus explaining why the ship sunk so quickly If the Germans let the Lusitania sail to London, the British would unload the weapons and ultimately use them against the Germans

13. The British Believed differently British Flag They claim That the sinking of the Lusitania was a barbaric crime against humanity Denied any presence of weaponry on the ship Believed that the Lusitania posed no threat to Germany Did not recognize the British Naval Blockade as justification for the sinking of the Lusitania

14. Americans had a different view American Flag Claims British withheld information from America that indicated that the Lusitania would be targeted by the Germans Did not immediately acknowledge the presence of weapons on the ship Believed that Germany wanted to bring the US into the War Speculated that the British may have wanted the US to enter the war on the allies side, thus ignoring the warnings from Germany

15. So, were there really munitions on the Lusitania? Live rounds recovered from the site of the Lusitania wreck

16. Direct Link to the USA • The munitions found aboard the Lusitania were stamped with Bethlehem Steel Corporation Identification

17. So who really is to blame for the sinking of the Lusitania?

18. The ultimate trial of the 20th century, in the 21st century in a 10th grade classroom • Will determine which country should ultimately be held responsible for the sinking of the Lusitania

19. The organization of the Trial Defendants (4 member teams) Prosecution 3 person prosecution team 10 jurors 2 witnesses • Germany • USA • Britain

20. Defendants • Each of the defendant countries will be given a packet filled with various sources including primary sources. Each packet will be custom to the country defending itself. The packet will contain information that builds the credible of each country while indicting the other countries. The defendant countries will review all of the data and build a case that exonerates them from the sinking of the Lusitania while indicting one or both of the reaming countries.

21. Prosecution • Prosecutors will have the data packs for all three of the defendant countries. The prosecutors will try to convict one of the countries, however the prosecutor has no stake in any particular country and is just concerned with getting a conviction.

22. Jurors • The jurors will listen to all of the evidence presented from the defense and the prosecution. The prosecution will then deliberate and vote on who they think is guilty. Once the jurors have reached a majority vote, a verdict will be reached

23. There are two witnesses implanted into the trial. One witness is pro Germany and the other is Pro-British. • The witnesses have been exposed to two separate news headlines headlines regarding the sinking of the Lusitania. One is bias in favor of Germany and the other is bias in favor of Britain.

24. Judge • The teacher will be the judge. It will be up to the teacher to decide what kind of evidence is permissible in court. The teacher will have the ability to strike testimony from the record.

25. Process… • The back of the classroom will be reserved for the jury • The front of the classroom will be where the defendants sit • The prosecution team will sit in the middle of the room • The first 30 minutes of class will be spent researching. Each country will research their data packet and/ or the internet to build their case. During this time the jury will analyze their bias newspaper articles. The prosecution will work in the hallway piecing together all of the evidence

26. Process(continued) • Once the research portion of the activity is complete, the prosecution will enter the room and guide the trial. Each country will have a chance to defend themselves and refute evidence. Every 20 minutes the jury will be taken into the hallway for deliberations.

27. Summary • I created and implemented this lesson at Palisades High School and it was a resounding success. The students, my cooperating teacher and I were all pleased with the lesson. • The class that I performed this activity with convicted Britain with the jury delivering an unanimous verdict. They believed that Britain ignored crucial warnings and acted in an irresponsible manner that directly put the lives of the people on board in Jeopardy. They believe that if the USA would have been warned about the impending attack, the ship would have never disembarked.