Embedded Files
Did calling the the Titanic "unsinkable" actually cause the Titanic to sink?
What Were the False Advertisements and Promises Concerning the Titanic?
What Were the False Advertisements and Promises Concerning the Titanic?
The White Star Line, as well as many publications about the Titanic, advertised the Titanic as unsinkable, or at least as unsinkable as possible, falsely promising that the Titanic was perfectly safe.
By: History on the Net
Researcher: Ronald Buena
Revised By: Sumiye Allen and Victoria Loya
A quote from one of the survivors of the Titanic, Margaret Devaney.
Citations
Citations
Text: “The Titanic - Why Did People Believe Titanic Was Unsinkable?” History, 12 May 2017, www.historyonthenet.com/the-titanic-why-did-people-believe-titanic-was-unsinkable/.
Image: “How an 'Unsinkable' Marketing Campaign Led the <Em>Titanic</Em> to Disaster.” Print Marketing Blog - Printwand™, 23 Mar. 2018, www.printwand.com/blog/how-unsinkable-marketing-campaign-led-titanic-disaster.
Abstract
Abstract
Although the White Star Line claimed that they did not advertise the Titanic as “unsinkable”, it was obvious they believed so, as the President even said as much when he was alerted that the Titanic was in trouble. They did not say that she was unsinkable, they stated that she was nearly unsinkable - however, no one paid attention to the "nearly". Many articles written at the time about the Titanic also concluded that she was unsinkable, and many of the passengers (and crew, too) believed the same. When the Titanic sank, it caused everyone to be much more cautious, and not trust extraordinary claims anymore.
Notable Quotes
Notable Quotes
“Yet, when the New York office of the White Star Line was informed that Titanic was in trouble, White Star Line Vice President P.A.S. Franklin announced 'We place absolute confidence in the Titanic. We believe the boat is unsinkable'" (Why Did People Consider, p.3).
"Whatever the origin of the belief, there is no doubt that people did believe Titanic to be unsinkable” (Why Did People Consider, p.9).
"The sinking of the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic shattered much confidence in science and made people more skeptical about such fantastic claims" (Why Did People Consider, p.13).
"Passenger Margaret Devaney said 'I took passage on the Titanic for I thought it would be a safe steamship and I had heard it could not sink.' Another passenger, Thomson Beattie, wrote home 'We are changing ships and coming home in a new unsinkable boat'” (Why Did People Consider, p.9-10).
"On June 1, 1911, the Irish News and Belfast Morning News contained a report on the launching of Titanic’s hull. The article described the system of watertight compartments and electronic watertight doors and concluded that Titanic was practically unsinkable" (Why Did People Consider, p.6).
"It seems incredible to us today that anyone could believe that 70,000 tons of steel could be unsinkable, and specifically the Titanic unsinkable, but that was the conventional wisdom of 1912 belief." (Why Did People Consider, p.1).
By: Printwand
Researcher: Ronald Buena
Revised By: Sumiye Allen and Victoria Loya
An ad for the R.M.S. Titanic.
Citations
Citations
Text: “How an 'Unsinkable' Marketing Campaign Led the Titanic to Disaster.” Print Marketing Blog - Printwand™, https://www.printwand.com/blog/how-unsinkable-marketing-campaign-led-titanic-disaster
Image: “White Star Line” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Nov. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Star_Line.
Abstract
Abstract
The sinking of the Titanic may have in part been due to the marketing tactics used to advertise it. First of all, it was described as “unsinkable”, while it soon became clear that it was not. These rumors were also spread by word. They may have influenced the crew to be less cautious because if your ship is unsinkable, icebergs aren’t much of a danger, right? Besides that, the White Star Line also lured many lower class passengers with talk of the “great America”, as well as the first class with the descriptions of the luxury the ship provided. This meant that even more people died because there was a great turnout for the Titanic's fatal maiden voyage. Finally, there weren’t enough lifeboats, perhaps to promote the advertised safety of the voyage. In order to make the Titanic look as safe and comfortable as possible, the White Star Line caused many more deaths.
Notable Quotes
Notable Quotes
"All that 'unsinkable' hype didn’t only affect White Star Line’s consumer base; it also affected their employees. You might recall that legendary deckhand purported to have uttered the phrase 'God himself could not sink this ship'” (How an 'Unsinkable', p.11).
"And it may have been that complacency which led to a terrible tragedy. If you believe that your ship is unsinkable, after all, why bother looking out for icebergs?" (How an 'Unsinkable', p.14).
"After all, if the ship were “unsinkable,” why would it even need lifeboats? Perhaps the White Star campaign felt (ironically) that passengers would feel less secure if they saw an overabundance of safety precautions” (How an 'Unsinkable', p.21).
"After the disaster, survivor Margaret Devaney confirmed that she had wholeheartedly believed the “unsinkable” claim, saying, '…I thought it would be a safe steamship, and I had heard it would not sink' ” (How an 'Unsinkable', p.9).
"While the campaign certainly achieved its purpose of attracting a throng of passengers, significant mistakes were made that ultimately contributed to the disaster that occurred during the ship’s maiden voyage" (How an 'Unsinkable', p.2).
"Despite the shipbuilders’ claims to the contrary, the Titanic was, at least to some extent, marketed as an “unsinkable ship.” Look no further than a brochure advertising both the Titanic and its sister ship, the Olympic: '…as far as it is possible to do so, these two wonderful vessels are designed to be unsinkable'" (How an 'Unsinkable', p.5).
"Rather than try to sell potential third-class passengers exclusively on the ship’s opulence, White Star allured them with promises of a prosperous future in America. Many struggling Europeans were enticed by the idea of learning profitable skills and seeking their fortune" (How an 'Unsinkable', p.18).
By: The Old Salt Blog
Researcher: Raphael Donato
Revised By: Sumiye Allen and Victoria Loya
The Titanic sinking.
Citations
Citations
Text & Image: “Myths of the Titanic - Did White Star Line Claim the Ship Was Unsinkable?” Old Salt Blog, 14 Apr. 2012, www.oldsaltblog.com/2012/04/myths-of-the-titanic-did-white-star-line-claim-the-ship-was-unsinkable/.
Abstract
Abstract
Some people say that the White Star Line never advertised the Titanic as absolutely unsinkable. While they did not focus entirely on its 'unsinkable-ness' in their advertising, they certainly believed it was, at least, almost absolutely safe. It was also said in publications about the Titanic that the captain, by pulling a switch, could make the ship almost unsinkable in the event of an accident. The White Star Line did also advertise the ship's safety, and near unsinkability, which, along with the other factors, resulted in no one expecting the Titanic to sink. Although there are claims that the media portrayed the Titanic this way to make a profit, since the topic of 'unsinkability' was investigated thoroughly after the incident, that claim is probably false.
Notable Quotes
Notable Quotes
"The Irish News, Belfast Morning News, and Shipbuilder printed detailed articles about the ship’s construction and noted that 'The Captain may, by simply moving an electric switch, instantly close the doors throughout and make the vessel practically unsinkable' " (Myths, p.5).
"It is true that White Star did not prominently feature “unsinkability” in its advertising ... Nevertheless, there is strong evidence that White Star, and indeed most experts of the day, did consider the Titanic to be unsinkable" (Myths, p.2).
"If no one claimed or believed that the ship was unsinkable prior to the Titanic’s rendezvous with the iceberg, why was the topic discussed at such length in the inquiries?" (Myths, p.8).
"On the morning of April 15th, 1912, after reports had come out of the ship hitting an iceberg, A. S. Franklin, Vice President of International Mercantile Marine, the American holding company which owned White Star Lines, issued a statement to the press, “We can not state too strongly our belief that the ship is unsinkable and passengers perfectly safe" (Myths, p.3).
"Yes, the statements regarding “unsinkability” tend to have modifiers – “as far as possible,” “practically,” and so on. All the same, the message is clear enough. No one expected the ship to sink. Most thought that she was unsinkable" (Myths, p.7).
"Nevertheless, his statement does seem to reflect the consensus at the time that advances in ship design and construction had made modern passenger ship practically unsinkable. The Titanic‘s Captain Edward Smith was quoted several years earlier, regarding the ship Adriatic, 'I cannot imagine any condition which would cause a ship to founder. I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to this vessel. Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that' " (Myths, p.4).
By: BBC
Researcher: Raphael Donato
Revised By: Sumiye Allen and Victoria Loya
The lifeboats of the Titanic.
Citations
Citations
Text: Kelly, Gordon. “Future - Titanic Anniversary: The Myth of the Unsinkable Ship.” BBC News, BBC, 2 Apr. 2012, www.bbc.com/future/story/20120402-the-myth-of-the-unsinkable-ship.
Image: Kelly, Debra. “False Facts about the Titanic You Always Thought Were True.” Grunge.com, Grunge, 5 Oct. 2017, www.grunge.com/31543/false-facts-titanic-always-thought-true/.
Abstract
Abstract
The Titanic sank, contrary to the White Star Line's vice-president's claims. Its sinking did have some good effects - today ships are built better and safer, and we lose much fewer ships per year. Ships are not invincible, but their designs are improving. Some reasons for the incident were: too short bulkheads, reinforced steel plates held by questionable rivets, problems with communication and navigation, lack of enough lifeboats, human mistakes, and other factors. However, back then, they didn't realize this and still thought that the Titanic was invincible. Either way, although the Titanic had some of the best technology of its time, it was not unsinkable, and still today, no one can say that of any ship.
Notable Quotes
Notable Quotes
"'There is no danger that Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers.' Phillip Franklin, White Star Line vice-president, 1912" (Kelly, Intro Quote).
"The ship’s maiden voyage that ended in tragedy on 14 April 1912 forced a huge rethink over design and features in a number of ways, many of which still exist today. As a result, ships are built better and safer than ever before – while the world commercial shipping fleet has trebled to over 100,000 vessels, shipping losses have decreased significantly from one ship in 100 per year in Titanic’s time to one ship in 670 per year, according to a report published last month by specialist marine insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty" (Kelly, p.3).
"We might have seen a host of increasingly sophisticated innovations and safety features over the past one hundred years, but one thing is certain: no-one would dare repeat Franklin's foolhardy boast" (Kelly, p.30).
"Like ships before it, the Titanic's bulkheads did not reach the deck above, extending only 10 ft (3m) above the waterline. When it struck the iceberg, five of Titanic's 16 compartments breached, causing the bow to dip, which in turn forced water into the remaining compartments" (Kelly, p.7).
"According to the official transcripts of the US Senate investigation into the Titanic, 1,517 lives perished in a wholly avoidable collision. The good news is that the disaster revolutionized shipping safety, the bad news is that there still is a long way to go" (Kelly, p.31).
By: Greg Ward
Researcher: Raphael Donato
Revised By: Sumiye Allen and Victoria Loya
The construction and building of the Titanic.
Citations
Citations
Text & Image: Were the Third-Class Passengers Held Back?, gregward.info/author/Was_the_Titanic_considered_unsinkable.html.
an online excerpt from the book
Ward, Greg. The Rough Guide to the Titanic. Rough Guides, 2012.
Abstract
Abstract
There were some mentions of the Titanic's near unsinkability post-disaster. There was more talk of the Titanic's invincibility the day she sank because the vice-president of the White Star Line announced their confidence when rumors arrived. Survivors also talked about their previous beliefs that the Titanic was safe. Some sources say that the Titanic was only labeled 'unsinkable' precisely because it sank. However, the over-confidence caused by the promises of safety definitely cost much loss of life, even if it didn't cause the crash itself, because no one thought getting in the lifeboats was necessary.
Notable Quotes
Notable Quotes
"Only the faintest of pre-tragedy references to the Titanic’s supposed unsinkability have been discovered" (Ward, p.1).
"On the very day the Titanic sank, the word “unsinkable” seemed to rise to the surface. The man largely responsible was White Star vice president Philip A.S. Franklin" (Ward, p.3).
"While that over-confidence may not have caused the collision itself – racing at breakneck speeds towards dangerous icefields was pretty much standard practice at the time – it did ultimately cost lives, because it was surely the main reason why so few passengers came forward to board the earliest lifeboats" (Ward, p.6).
"Only once the Titanic sank, perhaps, did people realize quite how invulnerable they had imagined themselves to be, a blind faith they then simply articulated by using that one small word – “unsinkable” (Ward, p.7).
"Early reports of the disaster were peppered with the word, and survivors swiftly started to use the term" (Ward, p.4).
By: Bridgwater Mercury
Researcher: Raphael Donato
Revised By: Sumiye Allen and Victoria Loya
The R.M.S. Titanic sailing off into the ocean.
Citations
Citations
Text & Image: Staff, Bridgwater Mercury. “TITANIC: 'The Titanic Was Unsinkable' - Myth or Not?” Bridgwater Mercury, Bridgwater Mercury, 1 Jan. 1970, www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/9645357.titanic-the-titanic-was-unsinkable-myth-or-not/
Abstract
Abstract
Harland and Wolff, the builders of the Titanic, say that the ship was never meant to be portrayed as unsinkable, rather, it was the fault of false interpretations of newspaper articles and other publications. They also say that the myth grew after the disaster. A White Star Line features the word 'unsinkable', and two passengers testified that they believed the Titanic could not sink, however. The Titanic was never meant to be advertised as entirely unsinkable, but that's how people took it. The Titanic is one of the most famous maritime disasters in the world and continues to sit at the bottom of the ocean.
Notable Quotes
Notable Quotes
"Harland and Wolff, who constructed Titanic in Belfast, insisted Titanic was never advertised as an unsinkable ship" (TITANIC, p.1).
"However, an extract from a White Star Line publicity brochure produced in 1910 for the twin ships, Olympic and Titanic, said: 'These two wonderful vessels are designed to be unsinkable' " (TITANIC, p.4).
"In a newspaper report, one passenger said: 'I took passage on Titanic for I thought it would be a safe steamship and I had heard it could not sink' " (TITANIC, p.7).
"Another passenger wrote home: 'We are changing ships and coming home in a new unsinkable boat' " (TITANIC, p.8).
"Ask anyone on any street in any city to name the world's most famous shipwreck, inevitably the reply will be: 'Titanic' " (TITANIC, p.9).
"The story of this ship, together with her passengers and crew, has fascinated people for 100 years and will probably continue to enthrall for another century" (TITANIC, p.10).
If you have any questions about the promises made by the White Star Line or the advertising of the Titanic, contact:
Sumiye Allen, Manager, Abstracts and General Edits,
Visila In, Co-manager, Grammar and Spelling,
Kaitlin Dipper, Graphic Designer,
Raphael Donato, Researcher,
Oliver Moreno, Proof-reader,
Victoria Loya, Abstracts,
Emery Domingo, Citations,
Report abuse