Sinking of the Lusitania
128 American citizens were among the 1,200 passengers of the ocean liner Lusitania which was sunk by a German submarine. The sinking of the Lusitania poisoned relations between the United States and Germany, but did not immediately result in American intervention in the war.
When World War I broke out the United States declared its neutrality. That was a popular position among the American people who had no interest in being drawn into the war. Great Britain however, was Americas largest trading partner and the US had every intention of continuing to trade with it including selling it arms.
World War I also did not stop the travel of Americans and Brits from crossing the Atlantic. The British Cunard line continue to sail its large liners between the Liverpool and New York. The RMS Lusitania was commissioned in 1907 and was the fastest liner in service able to maintain a speed of 25knots. While the Germans had begun to use submarines against British shipping the Lusitania was confident that it was fast enough to outrun any German sub.
In late April the German Embassy published the following ad:
http://www.historycentral.com/WorldWarOne/LusitaniaSunk.html
