Zimmerman Telegram Research Paper

In the World War I exhibit, there was a section about America selling to the allies different materials but remaining neutral in the war until the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman telegram. We learned about this in AP European History before, but mostly just a brief overview as we focused more on how the Europeans were impacted by these events. The exhibit informed me more on how there was a Mexican border conflict that heightened the tension and made it more impactful when the Zimmermann telegram was intercepted. We had learned that the Zimmerman telegram had an impact on america joining the war, and it was interesting to get more background about it. In the future, I would like to learn more about the espionage and sedition acts

Before reaching the right hands, British intelligence intercepted the telegram and were able to reveal what it said; this led many Americans to believe that war with Germany was essential as they watched it fill American newspapers (McGraw Hill 444). The telegram was first uncoded, and the reason it infuriated Americans was because it proposed a military alliance against the United States (“Zimmermann Telegram”). The severity of concern from American citizens is what got Congress’s attention. The very strong public opinion of the issues was one of the things that persuaded Congress to officially declare war against Germany (“Home > Zimmermann Telegram (1917)”). According to David Kahn, author of The Codebreakers, "No other single cryptanalysis has had such enormous consequences."

At the same time they attempted to sway Mexico into a alliance with them in case the United States declared war on Germany. The "Zimmerman Telegram" was intercepted by Allied forces and given to President Wilson. Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany on April 2, 1917. While Germany had done nothing to threaten our U.S. security, Wilson said in his speech that we would enter the war "to make the world safe for democracy". (Zieger, 53) A point that later spurn the effectiveness of Wilson's influence over peace was that America entered the war as an "associated power" rather than a true Ally.

For example in Document B it also asserts that, “We shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts- for democracy, for the right of [people] to have a voice in their own government, for the rights and liberties of small nations.” The U.S. had decided they needed to join the war to make sure that the world was safe enough to have a stable democracy running and to protect the rights of people and nations. Moving on, the last reason why the U.S. joined the war was because of the Zimmermann Note, which was a telegram from the Germans to Mexico but was intercepted by the British. In McDougal’s “ The Americans Reconstruction to the 21st Century” it states, “The telegram proposed an alliance between Mexico and Germany and promised that if war with the United States broke out, Germany would support Mexico in recovering lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.”(pg.379). The U.S. had no other choice but to join because Germany was getting involved in their affairs and was trying to get Mexico to help them launch an attack on the U.S. This was a huge threat that had to be dealt

American's involvement in World War I was greatly influenced by the Zimmerman Telegram that was received from London. Prior to receiving it, the United States proceeded to be neutral, however, their stance changed. As proposed in the telegram, the Alliance Germany had with Mexico and Japan was intended to creat a new front which would distract the U.S.; this would aid in Germany's favor (document 2). Germany needed this advantage as depicted in document 3. It shows how the German u-boats we're sinking and were being defeated. Another factor that played in the change of involvement was the right of democracy. It was portrayed in Woodrow Wilson's speech that he believed the United States shouldn't be selfish

In addition to the economic loss and security breach of the sinking of many American and British ships, there were other factors that went into the decision to wage war on Germany. One of these was the Zimmerman Telegram. This was a telegram sent by Germany to Mexico on January of 1917, promoting the idea of waging war on the United States; it also entailed a plan for Mexico to “reconquer the lost territories in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.” Unfortunately for the Germans, this telegram was intercepted by the British. Great Britain, wanting the United States to declare war on Germany, forwarded the telegram to the United States. President Wilson learned of the note in February, and the telegram’s contents were made public just a month later. As one can see, this was a notable security threat to the United States, and even contained plans for Mexico to wage war against America. The U.S. was trying to expand its borders, and losing territory would not help further this goal. Moreover, the United States would lose many men and supplies trying to defend its territorial possessions. So, the Wilson Administration saw that the only logical course of action, after this potentially dangerous telegram, was to commit to war against Germany. They would declare war in less

To start of the Great War from the U.S. positive perspective, in this statement it says the U.S. joined the battle “When a Germany U-boat sank the British liner on May 7, 1915, killing 1,198, including 128 Americans, President Wilson sent a strong note to berlin. The May 13 warning, Document 1, demands that Germany disavow submarine warfare and respect the rights of Americans to sail on high seas. In January 1917, Germany declared unrestricted submarine warfare, and Wilson broke diplomatic relations with Berlin…” (Merrill, Dennis, and Thomas G. Paterson pg. 29). So basically Germany didn’t want to listen or negotiate with Wilson’s offering to arbitrate the dispute. Wilson told congress by stating “The world must be made safe for democracy (Merrill, Dennis, and Thomas G. Paterson pg. 49).” President Wilson had no options but to join the war when Mexico

Propagandistic portrayals of German atrocities in the relatively new medium of motion pictures added to the heat. And finally, when it was revealed that German diplomats had approached Mexico about an alliance against the United States, Wilson felt compelled to ask Congress for a

The Zimmerman telegram was the the last event that finally pushed the U.S. into the war. The Zimmerman telegram was a letter or note sent by Arthur Zimmerman that had basically asked Mexico to declare war on the U.S., only if the U.S. declared war on Germany. The Germans strategy involved keeping the Americans busy on their own borders and not on foreign conflict. If the U.S. was prevented from joining the war, Germany would have a better chance at winning the war. The telegram noted that Mexico would get the return of their lost land. The lost land being Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. However, the telegram never reach Mexico because Britain intercepted it and showed it to American leaders. This had pushed them to a new level and they were ready for war. Once news of this spread to the American people, everyone was pushing towards joining the war.

In the early 1917 the could of war had made it to American shores. On march 1, 1917, the Germany encouraged Mexico to war on the side of Central powers. On April 2, 1917 he issued a declaration of war against Germany. He stated that the world should be safe.

On April 2, 1917 the United States entered WWI declaring war against Germany and its allies. The deciding factor for the U.S. to enter the war is due to one document, the Zimmerman Telegram. The document was sole proof to many Americans that Germany’s intentions were not only causing harm on European soil but bringing it across the seas to American soil. It stated that Germany had no intentions on slowing down its submarine warfare to which they hoped to keep the Americans neutral, but if they failed in doing so they offered an alliance among themselves and Mexico. The understanding was that Mexico would declare war on the United States and help the Germans and in return they would receive their land they had lost to America in years past,

However, May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the British ocean liner, RMS Lusitania killing 1,198 people, 128 of them being American. Similar to the U.S.S. Maine, the sinking became a lightning rod for uproar and approval to engage in war against the German. President Wilson even used the momentum to support his speech before Congress claiming that “property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be. The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind,” but this was not enough to send the U.S. to war. Later, the intercepted Zimmerman Telegram, which indicated that the Germans wanted to alliance with Mexico and possibly bring the war to North America, struck fear and an almost social crisis with the idea that America was not as invulnerable as they once thought before. It was this that pushed American fence sitters over the line and the US into Europe. Without the population socially aligned with the President’s decision, successful engagement in the war would have not been possible. Specifically, the compliance of the public when it came to the Draft, Liberty Bonds, Income Tax made America the superpower that it is.

My fellow citizens, I would like to thank you again for taking your time to research these topics to better the knowledge of the everyday person in these great united states. After seeing all the evidence on how this war will affect our nation and military, we have seen that if we remain neutral we will certainly make more enemies and that will lead to trouble in our economy, our foreign relations, and our own American moral. The Society of Royal Britains has brought forth to our attention the the Zimmerman telegram was intercepted and stated that if we remain neutral Germany will form an alliance with Mexico to reclaim their land which is now currently Texas. We must act hastily in our decision for the future of America. The Friends of Germany

By January 1917 representatives from the German navy convinced the military leadership and Kaiser Wilhelm II that a resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare could help defeat Great Britain within five months. German policymakers argued that they could violate the “Sussex pledge” because the United States was not being neutral (Office of the Historian). In January of 1917, British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to Mexico, offering United States’ territory to Mexico in return for joining the German cause (Childress). Accordingly, on January 31, 1917, the German Ambassador, Count Johann von Bernstorff, presented U.S. Secretary of State Robert Lansing with a note declaring Germany’s intention to restart unrestricted submarine warfare the following day. Stunned by the news, President Wilson went before Congress on February 3 to announce that he had severed diplomatic relations with Germany (Office of the Historian). Throughout February and March 1917, German submarines targeted and sunk several American ships, and many American passengers and seamen died (Office of the Historian). On February 26, Wilson asked Congress for authority to arm American merchant ships with U.S. naval personnel and equipment.

Germany is sneaky and it was stupid what they did because did not pass with america. “ if the neutral united states entered the war on the side of the allies, von eckardt was to appach mexico's president with an offer to forge a secret allies.” Saying this means that the germans were going to be sneaky about an alliance and give mexico and offer they can’t turn down. Offer can be anything but a good offer might be something they already lost. “ The germans would provide military and financial support for a mexican attack on the united sates and exchange mexico would be free to annex lost territory in texas new mexico and arizona.” This was the agreements that germany promised mexico if they attack the