What is the difference between Lusitania and USS Maine?
The Lusitania was a British ocean liner sunk by a German U-boat in May 1915 during World War I. The attack killed 1,198 passengers, including 128 Americans, fueling public outrage and swaying U.S. opinion against Germany. It was a civilian ship, and its sinking was part of unrestricted submarine warfare.
Here are the key differences:
Lusitania
1. British passenger liner: The Lusitania was a British-owned luxury steamship built by the Cunard Line.
2. Sunk by German U-boat: On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat (U-20) off the coast of Ireland.
3. Civilian casualties: The sinking resulted in the loss of over 1,000 civilian lives, including many women and children.
4. Contributed to US entry into WWI: The sinking of the Lusitania outraged public opinion in the United States and contributed to the country’s eventual entry into World War I.
USS Maine
1. US Navy battleship: The USS Maine was a US Navy battleship commissioned in 1895.
2. Sunk in Havana harbor: On February 15, 1898, the USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana harbor, Cuba, killing 266 American sailors.
3. Cause disputed: The cause of the explosion remains disputed, with various theories attributing it to a Spanish mine, an accident, or even a US naval operation gone wrong.
4. Led to Spanish-American War: The sinking of the USS Maine sparked a wave of anti-Spanish sentiment in the United States, leading to the declaration of war against Spain and the beginning of the Spanish-American War.
In summary, while both ships were sunk under controversial circumstances, the Lusitania was a British passenger liner sunk by a German U-boat, leading to widespread outrage and contributing to the US entry into WWI. The USS Maine, on the other hand, was a US Navy battleship sunk in Havana harbor, leading to the Spanish-American War.