zimmermann telegram

in january 1917, the german government sent a coded telegram to mexico's government proposing a military alliance between the two countries. germany suggested that mexico should support them if the united states entered world war 1. in return, they promised to return texas, arizona, and new mexico to mexico if germany won the war. this secret telegram was intercepted by british intelligence, who broke the code, and americans were enraged by germany's plans. in march that year, german foreign secretary arthur zimmermann finally confirmed the telegram was real, which encouraged support in america for entering the war.