The Zimmermann note contributed significantly to the push for America's involvement in World War I, as it resulted in America's distrust in the German government. In January 1917, a German secretary named Arthur Zimmermann sent off a secret letter to German Ambassador Heinrich Von Eckardt in Mexico.
In his note, Zimmermann provided instructions for Von Eckardt. He told Von Eckardt to use Mexicans to convince Japan to side with Germany. In addition, Zimmermann instructed Eckardt to propose a Mexican-German alliance if the United States were to enter the war. He stated that Germans would support Mexico in an attack against the United States both financially and militarily. In return, Mexico would be able to reconquer territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
The note had some trouble reaching Von Eckardt. Since Germany didn't have a telegraph line that passed directly to North America, the note was passed through British lines. British decoders were monitoring the lines from Germany, and intercepted the note before it arrived in Mexico. After decoding the encrypted message, the British sent it to the United States to inform President Wilson. The note's information flooded newspapers throughout the United States. It immediately caused outrage at Zimmermann's plans against the nation and a nationwide demand for war against Germany.
Germany and the United States were not on great terms in the first place due to Germany's resumed unrestricted submarine warfare and attacked on US ships. The Zimmermann note became the turning point for US entry in the war, as it was a sign of Germany's anger towards the United States. On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany and other countries of the Central Powers.
https://www.history.com/news/what-was-the-zimmermann-telegram
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3900
https://www.britannica.com/event/Zimmermann-Telegram
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38581861
https://www.thoughtco.com/world-war-i-zimmerman-telegram-2361417
It would be interesting to see how the war would have turned out if the British had never intercepted the Zimmerman Telegram. We can infer that it would have involved Mexican war on the US, British involvement in North America, and German support in the Western Hemisphere. Overall, great blog post about (probably) the final straw that caused the US to enter World War I.
ReplyDeleteI think it's kind of interesting how the Germans thought it would be a good idea to send the Zimmerman note through British lines (probably a bad idea!). One thing I did read while researching was that the British actually withheld the Zimmerman note from the United States for a little while until it was strategic for them to release the note. The British strategically released the note to President Wilson after the Germans announced that they were going to continue a naval offensive against US ships. Now that the Germans were starting to prod at America, the Zimmerman note was perfect to tip Wilson over the brink and declare war on Germany.
ReplyDeleteSource:https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1107.html
Whenever I read about the Zimmerman note, I always find what transpired very peculiar because to me it seems like it could have been avoided, and the more I read about it the more I get confused. For instance prior to reading your post I never that the telegram was sent through British lines, this information only adds to my confusion because what part of sending a telegram through an enemies line seemed like a good idea. It’s interesting to think about what would have gone differently if the note had never been intercepted, or sent in the first place. The zimmerman note sort of served as the final straw that caused the US to join the war. If the note had never reached the united states it may have delayed US involvement in the war, making it easier for Germany to close out and win the war, this however may be my hindsight bias. Overall this was a really good post, it included details about the Zimmerman Note that I had not known about before and were interesting to read about.
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