HW Complete geography skills p. 434 First there was the sinking of the Lusitania…..What was the Zimmerman letter? The Zimmermann Telegram was a 1917 proposal from the German Empire to Mexico to join the war against the United States. The contents outraged American public opinion and helped generate support for the United States declaration of war on Germany in April.[1] The message came as a coded telegram sent by the Secretary of the German Empire, Arthur Zimmermann, on 16 January 1917 to the German ambassador in Mexico. Germany approached the Mexican Government with a proposal for the Mexican military to attack the USA, with funding from Germany. Mexico was promised territories in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona that had been lost to the United States. Mexico, unable to match the U.S. military, ignored the proposal and officially rejected it This letter was intercepted by the USA and was the final event that made the USA join the war. It was clear Germany wanted to attack USA through Mexico. Why did this secret letter or telegram bring the USA into the war? If you don't know the answer....ask 3 questions about this letter.