Zimmerman+Telegram-+Series+of+Events

Arthur Zimmerman Zimmerman Telegram Cartoon

The telegram was sent on January 19th, 1917 through a "secure cable" to the German ambassador in Mexico. It informed him that Germany was going to be restarting the policy of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare and told him to propose an alliance immediately. The note told Mexico if they joined in a war against the United States, they would receive financial support and gain back land they had lost in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. The ambassador was also supposed to ask the Mexican President to propose his own alliance to Japan. Germany wanted to send this telegram because they were being severely hurt by the British Blockade. Also, US ships were only supplying goods to the Allies though they were officially neutral. Germany knew that the renewed USW would probably cause the United States to declare war but they hoped they could shut Britain down before the US arrived. Also, they hoped the Mexico and Japan alliance proposed in the telegram would distract the US on the pacific front. On February 24th, 1917 British Intercepted the telegram since Germany had been forced to send it on British and American Cables since theirs had been cut by Britain and released it to the United States. It was released to the world on March 1st, 1917. Britain was eager to show it to the United States to get them to join the war. They knew seeing the telegram would cause the public to be enraged and want to declare war. Mexico and Japan immediately declined having anything to do with the proposal and Zimmerman admitted its authenticity on March 3rd. A huge majority of people in the United States reacted harshly to the intercepted message and the USW backing war against Germany. On April 6th, when Congress approved Wilson's decision to declare war, there was one only one vote against it.
 * __Series of Events__**
 * __The Zimmerman Telegram__ was a telegram sent from the German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman to the ambassador in Mexico proposing an alliance. Germany wanted Mexico to attack the United States. It was intercepted and was a big factor in the United States entering World War I.**
 * __Unrestricted Submarine Warfare__ was the German program of sinking any ship going near their enemies so they could starve their enemies of food and resources.**



__**Would it have been successful?**__ No, the Zimmerman Telegram would not have been successful. Firstly, Mexico would not have accepted. They formally declined on April 14th. Mexico would not have been able to have had a successful war with the United States. They had in fact been trying to prevent war with the United States. War between the United States and Germany was inevitable and the interception of the Zimmerman Telegram was just the spark that set off the war.

http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/zimmermann/
 * __Cites__**: http://europeanhistory.about.com/cs/americainww1/p/przimmermantele.htm