The Secrets of the Zimmermann Telegram

During WWI, Germany sent a secret message proposing a military alliance with Mexico against the US, using an American cable system. The Allies, led by Great Britain, dominated telecommunications, cutting Germany's cables. Germany saw the US as a threat despite its isolationist stance. In 1917, Germany promised Mexico land if it declared war on the US. The Zimmerman Telegram was intercepted and decoded by the British, who kept it secret to avoid revealing their espionage. When the telegram's contents became public, US opinion shifted, leading President Wilson to declare war on Germany, marking a turning point in the Allied victory.

What was Germany's proposal to Mexico during World War I?

• To join the Central Powers

• To remain neutral

• To declare war on the United States

• To form a trade alliance

Which country had the upper hand in telecommunications during World War I?

• Great Britain

• United States

• Mexico

• Germany

Why did the Central Powers rely on neutral or allied countries for communication?

• Their cables were severed by the British

• They wanted to avoid detection

• They had no telegraph cables

• They preferred encrypted messages

Who intercepted and decoded the Zimmerman Telegram?

• Great Britain

• The United States

• Mexico

• Germany

What was the impact of the Zimmerman Telegram on the United States?

• It led to a trade embargo

• It caused the US to declare war on Germany

• It strengthened US isolationism

• It improved US-German relations