the zimmerman note

The Zimmerman Note

• January, 19, 1917

• Germany and Mexico

• New Mexico, Texas and Arizona

The Actual Note

You get your states back!

The Telegram Decoded

The Telegram Translated

Effect in the U.S.

• Popular sentiment (feeling) in the United States at that time was anti-Mexican as well as anti-German. General John J. Pershing had long been chasing the revolutionary Pancho Villa, who had carried out several cross-border raids. News of the Telegram further inflamed tensions between the U.S. and Mexico.

Effect in the U.S.

• At first, the Telegram was widely believed to be a forgery (fake) by British intelligence. However, first on March 3, 1917 and later on March 29, 1917, Arthur Zimmermann himself admitted that the Telegram was genuine.

The U.S. declares war

• Woodrow Wilson responded by asking Congress to arm American ships so that they could fend (protect from) off potential German submarine attacks. A few days later, on April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. On April 6, 1917, Congress complied (agreed), bringing the United States into World War I.