To What Extent Did the Zimmerman Telegram Influenced the United States Decision to Enter WWI on the Side of the Allies

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Recommended: America's involvement in the First World War and neutrality

A. Plan of the Investigation
This investigation will analyze the extent to which the Zimmermann Telegram influenced the United States decision to enter World War I on the side of the Allies? To accomplish this, the investigation will look at attempts made by the U.S to avoid involvement in the war and how the German government responded to such attempts. What the Germans hope to achieve by sending the telegram and how American opinion about the war was impacted by the publication of the telegram will also be investigated, with particular attention given to President Woodrow Wilson. The investigation will also take into consideration the impact of the German resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare on the United States decision.

B. Summary of Evidence
When World War One began in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson immediately declared the United States neutral, imploring citizens to “be impartial in thought, as well as action” (Wilson, Message to Congress). Wilson then began his two year campaign to ensure both the United States continued neutrality, and to secure a “peace without victory” in Europe (Baker 24). Wilson succeeded in keeping the U.S out of European affairs until early 1915, when Germany announced that it would commence a policy of unrestricted U-boat warfare in the waters around the British Isles (Clements and Cheezum 37). Months later, on May 7th, German U-boats sank the British passenger liner the Lusitania without warning (Tuchman 64). President Wilson responded by demanding that Germany promise to abandon unrestricted U-boat warfare, and in late 1915, the Germans relented (Katz 32). Later, when Germany proclaimed it would resume unrestricted U-boat warfare, Wilson again demanded they abandon such “unlawful tact...

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...xander, Mary Childress, and Marylin Childress. "The Zimmermann Telegram." National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, 4 Apr. 1981. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
• Clements, Kendrick A., and Eric A. Cheezum. Woodrow Wilson. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 2003. Print.
• Fitzpatrick, Sheila. The Russian Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. Print
• Katz, Friedrich. The Secret War in Mexico: Europe, the United States, and the Mexican Revolution. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1981. Print. (pg50)
• Knight, Peter. Conspiracy Theories in American History: An Encyclopedia. 1st ed. Vol. 2. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2003. Print.
• Wilson, Woodrow. "Message to Congress." 63rd Cong., 2d Sess. Senate House, Washington, DC. 19 Aug. 1914. Address,
• Tuchman, Barbara Wertheim. The Zimmermann Telegram. New York: Macmillan, 1966. Print

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