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The Zimmermann Telegram outraged the American public and incited the United States to enter World War I against Germany.  This was a telegram sent by German For­eign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German ambassador to Mexico, which sought to induce Mexico to declare war on the United States.  The British intelligence intercepted the telegram and gave it to the United States to help the British cause.  President Woodrow Wilson made the contents of the telegram public.

The Zimmermann Telegraph was a telegraph sent from [[German]] For­eign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister to [[Mexico]] on January 19th, 1917.  

The telegram promised that Germany would help Mexico regain land it had previously lost to the United States in the Mexican War (in the 1840s) if Mexico would declare war against the United States during World War I. Americans were outraged, and some newspapers doubted that the British self-serving version of the telegram was true.  But then Zimmermann himself was foolish enough to confirm the promise (pledge) to Mexico in a public speech.

In an effort to entice Mexico to join [[World War I]] on the side of Germany, it promised that Germany would help Mexico regain land it had previously lost to the United States during the [[Mexican War]] if Mexico would declare war against the United States. 

 

The telegram outraged American citizens when its contents were made public by President [[Woodrow Wilson]] via its newspaper publication on March 1st, 1917.  The telegram influenced the United States to enter World War I against Germany.

 

British [[cryptography|cryptographers]] intercepted the telegram and on February 24, 1917, gave it to the U.S. Government in an effort to to help the British cause.

 

When the text of the telegram was released, some newspapers doubted that the British self-serving version of the telegram was true.  However Zimmermann himself confirmed the contents of the telegram during a speech on March 29, 1917.<ref>[http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/zimmermann_speech.htm]</ref>

 

 

''“We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal or alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call the President’s attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace.”

 

 

 

*[http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/zimmermann_speech.htm ]