Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasyWorld War I: Diplomacy, Military, and Postwar Peace

"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. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona."
— Arthur Zimmermann, German Foreign Secretary, telegram to the German Minister to Mexico, January 1917

Which of the following developments did the publication of the telegram excerpted above most directly contribute to?

  1. A
    A policy of complete isolationism that barred all trade with European nations
  2. The decision of the United States to abandon neutrality and enter World War IAnswer
  3. C
    The immediate outbreak of the Spanish-American War
  4. D
    A formal military alliance between the United States and Latin American nations

Answer

The decision of the United States to abandon neutrality and enter World War I
The correct answer is the decision of the United States to abandon neutrality and enter World War I. The publication of the Zimmermann Telegram in March 1917, which proposed a German-Mexican alliance against the United States, outraged the American public and helped build support for President Woodrow Wilson's request for a declaration of war against Germany in April 1917.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text of the Zimmermann Telegram.
Identify that the document is a 1917 message from German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann proposing a military alliance between Germany and Mexico if the United States entered World War I.
Understanding the core proposal and the context of the document is necessary to evaluate its historical impact.
2
Evaluate the options to find the direct historical consequence of the telegram's publication.
Determine that the outrage over Germany's proposal to partition U.S. territory (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona) galvanized American public opinion and pushed the United States to declare war on Germany.
Connecting the stimulus to the correct historical development is required to answer the question.

Key Concept

The causes of United States entry into World War I, specifically the impact of German diplomatic maneuvers and maritime policies on U.S. neutrality.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

World War I: Diplomacy, Military, and Postwar Peace

More questions from this topic