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==Aftermath==

==Aftermath==

The sinking of ''Lusitania'' was a terrorist attack against a civilian target and a dramatic violation of the standards of civilized warfare, though the Germans celebrated their triumph. International law, agreed to by Germany, explictly required the Germans had to allow the passengers to escape before sinking the ship. By following the law, however, the fast ship might have escaped the slow submarine, so the captain acted to get his kill regardless of the law.  German propagandists later pointed to the presence of small arms ammunition on board as a way to fool people into thinking the Germans had a shred of a case. They did not.  

The sinking of ''Lusitania'' was a terrorist attack against a civilian target and a dramatic violation of the standards of civilized warfare. International law, agreed to by Germany, explictly required the Germans had to allow the passengers to escape before sinking the ship. By following the law, however, the fast ship might have escaped the slow submarine, so the captain acted to get his kill regardless of the law.  German propagandists later pointed to the presence of small arms ammunition on board as a way to fool people into thinking the Germans had a shred of a case. They did not.  

128 innocent Americans lost their lives.  President [[Woodrow Wilson]], saying America was too proud to fight, demanded promises that Germany would never again sink unarmed passenger liners.  Germany so promised but a few weeks later sank another passenger ship, the [[Arabic attack|''Arabic'']] with more innocent Americans killed.  Finally the Germans backed away from attacks on civilian ships. When they resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in early 1917 their goal was to defeat Britain quickly, knowing full well that Americans would go to war when American ships started going down, as happened in April 1917.

128 innocent Americans lost their lives. Coming on the heels of German atrocities against civilians in Belgium, the episode permanently ruined Germany's reputation and alienated American public opinion.  President [[Woodrow Wilson]], saying America was too proud to fight, demanded promises that Germany would never again sink unarmed passenger liners.  Germany so promised but a few weeks later sank another passenger ship, the [[Arabic attack|''Arabic'']] with more innocent Americans killed.  Finally the Germans backed away from attacks on civilian ships. When they resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in early 1917 their goal was to defeat Britain quickly, knowing full well that Americans would go to war when American ships started going down, as happened in April 1917.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==