250 to 250: 31. Zimmermann Telegram, Narrated by Daniel W. Drezner

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Zimmermann Telegram, Narrated by Daniel W. Drezner

Daniel W. Drezner is Distinguished Professor of International Politics at The Fletcher School, co-host of the popular Space the Nation podcast, and the author of Drezner's World on Substack. Drezner explains how a single German telegram to Mexico helped push the United States into World War I.

In 1917, Woodrow Wilson wanted the United States to stay out of World War I.

• Many Americans did not want to join the war.
• Some leaders, including Theodore Roosevelt, wanted the United States to enter the war.

Germany sent a secret message to Mexico.

• The message was called the Zimmermann Telegram.
• Germany asked Mexico to become its ally if the United States entered the war.
• Germany promised to help Mexico regain Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
• Britain intercepted the secret message and shared it with the United States.
• When Americans learned about the message, many changed their minds about the war.

On April 2, 1917, President Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany.

• The United States entered World War I.
• Wilson said the goal was to help "make the world safe for democracy."

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 9:36. If the law requires it, are you willing to perform noncombatant services (do something that does not include fighting in a war) in the U.S. armed forces?
• USCIS 100:79. Who was President during World War I?
• USCIS 128:101. Why did the United States enter World War I?

Family Fun:

• National Archives: Zimmerman Telegram: Decoding a Message activity | lesson plan
• National WWI Museum and Memorial: Interactive Timeline | WWI Map | Making Codes and Cyphers activity
• National WWI Museum and Memorial: How WWI Changed America: Citizenship and WWI
• Truman Library: ROOM 40: British Naval Intelligence and the Zimmermann Telegram lesson plan
• USCIS: A More Perfect Union series: The Civics Test Guide to the WWI Memorial
• uscitizenpod: 1915 Peace Protestors | April 19, 1917 Wake Up America Day coloring pages