British cryptographers deciphered the Zimmermann Telegram in January of 1917. In the telegram German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann offered Von Eckhardt (German Minister of Mexico), lost areas in the United States such as Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. In return they asked Mexico to join the Central Powers and attack the United States. To protect their intelligence from detection and to make sure that the citizens in America would believe them, the British presented the telegram to President Wilson on February 24. It was published on March 1 leading to the United States Congress declaring war on the Central Powers on April 6th, 1917.
Mansur Mekan's List: Zimmermann Telegram Tipping Point
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Feb 22, 12
Introduction:
In January of 1917 a secret telegram was sent from the German foreign minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister of Mexico, Von Eckhardt. In the telegram Zimmermann proposed an alliance with Mexico against the United States. This telegram was the “Last straw” and drew America into World War I, defying Woodrow Wilson’s slogan “He kept us out of war”. The Zimmermann telegram is such a major event in history; it is considered a tipping point.
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Feb 27, 12
General Knowledge:
The Germans said that they would resume unrestricted submarine warfare on Feb. 1, 1917. Telegram sent from Germany’s Secretary to the German ambassador of Mexico, It encouraged the Mexicans to join the war on their side and attack U.S, Telegram was intercepted by the British. Zimmermann-Germany’s Foreign Minister Didn’t think Mexicans would win but wanted to join anyway , Bethmann- Germany’s chancellor who said Belgium neutrality was a scrap of paper, he warned against the submarine warfare gave Americans reason to enter the war, the info went from Bernstorff German ambasoder in U.S.
“Germany wants us to go to war with Mexico therefore we must not go to war with Mexico.” Woodrow Wilson.
England’s Room 40 was intercepting German telegrams. They has to keep their anonymity once it was leaked to the papers. Zimmerman admitted his authorship.
(From my notes)
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Feb 22, 12
“The German Navy, itching to have no restrictions, did not tell the Kaiser that between May and July 1915 it sank 86 percent of seized merchant ships after visit, search, and evacuation. During 1915-19, of 116 German sinkings, 94 were under cruiser rules” (Evans 146).
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In January of 1917, British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister to Mexico, von Eckhardt, offering United States territory to Mexico in return for joining the German cause. This message helped draw the United States into the war and thus changed the course of history. The telegram had such an impact on American opinion that, according to David Kahn, author of The Codebreakers, "No other single cryptanalysis has had such enormous consequences." It is his opinion that "never before or since has so much turned upon the solution of a secret message." In an effort to protect their intelligence from detection and to capitalize on growing anti-German sentiment in the United States, the British waited until February 24 to present the telegram to Woodrow Wilson. The American press published news of the telegram on March 1. On April 6, 1917, the United States Congress formally declared war on Germany and its allies.
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Feb 27, 12
Source Cited:
(146) Evans, Harold. The American Century. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1998. 710. Print.
Alexander, M. A. M. C.. "Teaching With Documents:." National archives. National Archives, 1981. Web. 22 Feb 2012.
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Feb 22, 12
Conclusion:
The Zimmerman Telegram was America’s “Last straw” and caused them to enter the war against the Central Powers on April 6, 1917. To conclusion, the Zimmermann Telegram is an extremely important event and is a “Tipping point” in history. If it would have not happened there would have been a high possibility that the Central Powers would have defeated the Allies which would lead to other events, changing the course of history.
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