The document summarizes the Zimmerman Telegram from January 1917, in which Germany offered to help Mexico regain territories in the western United States if Mexico allied with Germany against the U.S. This further inflamed tensions between the U.S. and Mexico during Pancho Villa's raids. Though initially believed to be fake, the telegram was confirmed as real by German officials, leading President Wilson to ask Congress to arm merchant ships and declare war on Germany, bringing the U.S. into World War I.

1. The Zimmerman Note January, 19, 1917 Germany and Mexico New Mexico, Texas and Arizona

2. The Actual Note

3. You get your states back!

4. The Telegram Decoded

5. The Telegram Translated

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.