Despite further provocations, President Wilson still hoped for a negotiated settlement until February 1, , when Germany resumed submarine warfare against merchant ships, including those of the United States and other neutral countries. In response, Wilson immediately broke off diplomatic relations with Germany. Then, on February 25, the British intercepted and decoded a telegram from Germany's foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann to the German ambassador in Mexico. The so-called " Zimmermann telegram " proposed that in the event of war with the United States, Germany and Mexico would form an alliance.
The release of the Zimmermann Telegram ignited a public furor that was further enflamed by the loss of at least three U. After deep thought and introspection, President Wilson appeared before a joint session of Congress on the evening og April 2, and asked for a declaration of war against Germany. This is a partial excerpt of what he said : It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance.
But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts - for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free.
The Imperial German Government will not expect the Government of the United States to omit any word or any act necessary to the performance of its sacred duty of maintaining the rights of the United States and its citizens and of safeguarding their free exercise and enjoyment. Jump to: navigation , search. Navigation menu Personal tools Log in. Namespaces Page Discussion. Views Read View source View history.
Navigation Main page Recent changes Random page Help. If Lincoln had acted after the firing of Sumter in the way that Wilson did about the sinking of the Lusitania, in one month the North would have been saying they were so glad he kept them out of the war and that they were too proud to fight and that at all hazards fratricidal war must be averted.
Read the document introduction and excerpt. Then apply your knowledge of American history in order to answer the questions that follow. History Resources. Excerpt Wilson and Bryan have quarreled over what seems to me an entirely insignificant point, that is, as to the percentage of water they shall put into a policy of mere milk and water.
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