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[[Image:Zimmermanntelegram.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The Zimmermann Telegram]]

[[Image:Zimmermanntelegram.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The Zimmermann Telegram]]

The '''Zimmermann Telegram''' was a proposal by Germany to Mexico in January 1917 to join [[Germany]] in a war against the United States. The telegram was intercepted by British spies and given to the press by President [[Woodrow Wilson]]. American public opinion was outraged--this was seen as a "casus bellum" (cause for war) and was one of several reasons for Congress to declare war on Germany on April 6, 1917, bringing the U.S. into [[World War I]].<ref>The main reason for war was the actual German attacks on American ships.</ref>  Relations between the U.S. and Mexico were very bad and there was a risk of war between the two.  The telegram was sent by German For­eign Minister [[Arthur Zimmermann]] to the German ambassador to Mexico on January 19th, 1917, who carried the proposal to the Mexican government.  Mexico realized the proposal would make it a satellite of Germany and would lead to quick defeat by the vastly more powerful U.S., so it wisely ignored the message and remained neutral in the World War.  The Zimmermann Telegram (spelled with two n's) is considered one of the worst blunders in diplomatic history.

The '''Zimmermann Telegram''' was a proposal by Germany to Mexico in January 1917 to join [[Germany]] in a war against the United States. The telegram was intercepted by British spies and given to the press by President [[Woodrow Wilson]], outraging American public opinion and providing a "casus bellum" (a formal cause for war) and was one of several reasons for Congress to declare war on Germany on April 6, 1917, bringing the U.S. into [[World War I]].<ref>The main reason for war was the actual German attacks on American ships.</ref>  Relations between the U.S. and Mexico were very bad and there was a risk of war between the two.  The telegram was sent by German For­eign Minister [[Arthur Zimmermann]] to the German ambassador to Mexico on January 19th, 1917, who carried the proposal to the Mexican government.  Mexico realized the proposal would make it a satellite of Germany and would lead to quick defeat by the vastly more powerful U.S., so it wisely ignored the message and remained neutral in the World War.  The Zimmermann Telegram (spelled with two n's) is considered one of the worst blunders in diplomatic history.

==Prelude==

==Prelude==

Between August 1914 and November 1918, the European nations fought a Great War (now called "World War I"). While armies battled in Europe, the United States remained neutral. In 1916 Woodrow Wilson was elected President for a second term, in part because of the slogan "He kept us out of war."  

Between August 1914 and November 1918, the European nations fought the Great War (now called "World War I"). While armies battled in Europe, the United States remained neutral, in 1916 electing Woodrow Wilson for a second term as president, in part because of the slogan "He kept us out of war."  

Germany’s use of submarines to attack British and French passenger ships and freighters led to the sinking of an unarmed French boat, the ''Sussex'', in March 1916. Wilson threatened to sever diplomatic relations with Germany unless the German Government refrained from attacking all passenger ships, and allowed the crews of enemy merchant vessels to escape into lifeboats. On May 4, 1916, the German Government accepted these terms and conditions in what came to be known as the “Sussex pledge.”

Germany’s use of submarines to attack British and French passenger ships and freighters led to the sinking of an unarmed French boat, the ''Sussex'', in March 1916. Wilson threatened to sever diplomatic relations with Germany unless the German Government refrained from attacking all passenger ships, and allowed the crews of enemy merchant vessels to escape into lifeboats. On May 4, 1916, the German Government accepted these terms and conditions in what came to be known as the “Sussex pledge.”

By January 1917, however, the situation in Germany had changed. There seemed a very good chance to win the war. American entry was discounted because the US was already shipping supplies to Britain and France, and the U.S. had a very small army. The German navy convinced the German army and [[Kaiser Wilhelm II]] that a resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare could help defeat Britain within five months. German policymakers argued that they could violate the “Sussex pledge,” because the United States could no longer be considered a neutral party after supplying munitions and financial assistance to the Allies. The war would be won before American forces could make much difference.

By January 1917, however, the situation in Germany had changed. There seemed a very good chance to win the war. American entry was discounted because the US was already shipping supplies to Britain and France, and the U.S. had a very small army. The German navy convinced the German army and [[Kaiser Wilhelm II]] that a resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare could help defeat Britain within five months. German policymakers argued that they could violate the “Sussex pledge,” because the United States could no longer be considered a neutral party after supplying munitions and financial assistance to the Allies. The war would be won before American forces could make much difference.

Germany’s civilian Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg, protested this decision, as he believed that resuming submarine warfare would draw the United States into the war. This, he argued, would lead to the defeat of Germany. However the civilians did not control decision making.  The military made the decisions and controlled the Kaiser's thinking. The Kaiser decided to resume unrestricted submarine attacks on all Allied and neutral shipping within prescribed war zones, reckoning that German submarines would end the war long before the first American troopship arrived in Europe. Accordingly, on January 31, 1917, the German Ambassador to the United States, 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.

Germany’s civilian Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg, protested this decision, as he believed that resuming submarine warfare would draw the United States into the war, which he argued would lead to the defeat of Germany. However the civilians did not control decision making; the military made the decisions and controlled the Kaiser's thinking. The Kaiser decided to resume unrestricted submarine attacks on all Allied and neutral shipping within prescribed war zones, reckoning that German submarines would end the war long before the first American troopship arrived in Europe. Accordingly, on January 31, 1917, the German Ambassador to the United States, 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. However, he refrained from asking for a declaration of war because he doubted that the American public would support him unless American ships actually were sunk. That soon happened as throughout February and March 1917, German submarines targeted and sunk several unarmed American civilian merchant ships, and some American passengers and seamen died.

Stunned by the news, President Wilson went before Congress on February 3 to announce that he had severed diplomatic relations with Germany. However, he refrained from asking for a declaration of war because he doubted that the American public would support him unless American ships were actually sunk. That soon happened as throughout February and March 1917, German submarines targeted and sunk several unarmed American civilian merchant ships, and some American passengers and seamen died.

On February 26, Wilson asked Congress for authority to arm American merchant ships with U.S. naval personnel and guns. Public opinion strongly supported the measure, but several anti-war senators led a successful filibuster that consumed the remainder of the Congressional session. The bill never passed. Regardless, Wilson decided to arm American merchant ships by executive order, claiming that an old anti-piracy law gave him the authority to do so.

On February 26, Wilson asked Congress for authority to arm American merchant ships with U.S. naval personnel and guns. Public opinion strongly supported the measure, but several anti-war senators led a successful filibuster that consumed the remainder of the Congressional session. The bill never passed. Regardless, Wilson decided to arm American merchant ships by executive order, claiming that an old anti-piracy law gave him the authority to do so.