Part 7/10:
The sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 offers a historical lens through which to examine these themes. The awareness that leaders may have knowingly risked the lives of civilians as a mechanism to engage the U.S. in World War I highlights the calm calculation underpinning such decisions. Communication exists suggesting the retrofitting of civilian ships with munitions and the intentional orchestration of events to create a pretext for war.