The United States finally takes a part WWI siding with
England, France Russia and other nations on the side of the Allies. On April 2,
1917 President Wilson requests Declaration of War from congress on the bases that
"The world must be made safe for democracy.
Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We
have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no
indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall
freely make."
The declaration of war was initiated by the Zimmermann Note.
The Zimmermann Note was sent by German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann, in
January of 1917, to German ambassador Heinrich von Eckhart in attempt to
persuade Mexico to take a part in WWI, to join the side of the Central Powers.
The deal promised Mexico the territories it has lost in conflicts with the
United States in the past, mainly territories lost in the Mexican American War.
In addition to the promise of land for Mexico, Germany also commented on
continuation of unrestricted warfare, "We
intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We
shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America
neutral."
This note, which was
found in decimal file code, was first intercepted by the British in January. But it was held until February 24 before it
was given to Wilson because Britain wanted to maximize the growing Anti-German
beliefs among the American public. The Press then published the Zimmermann
Note on March 1st
of that year and Britain got the reaction they hoped for. The American public
was enraged. With this note the America people felt the distant war on another
continent was now "being brought to their
own land". America, pushed in to WWI had a huge effect on the balance of
power, going in to the war with the notion that this war would be "the war
to end all wars."
Zimmermann Note in decimal file
Zimmermann Note Translated
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