Step-by-step explanation:
The Zimmermann Telegram was a secret message sent by Germany's Foreign Secretary, Arthur Zimmermann, to the German ambassador in Mexico, proposing a military alliance between Germany and Mexico if the United States entered World War I. In the telegram, Zimmermann suggested that if Mexico were to declare war on the United States, Germany would provide military and financial assistance, and in return, Mexico would receive support in reclaiming lost territories from the US. The interception and deciphering of the telegram by British intelligence agents in 1917 proved to be a turning point in the war. The disclosure of the Zimmermann Telegram was a major factor that led to the United States' decision to declare war on Germany, ultimately helping to tip the balance in favor of the Allied Powers and leading to their victory.
If the Zimmermann Telegram had not been intercepted by British intelligence agents, it is likely that the United States may not have entered World War I. This could have resulted in a very different outcome for the war, potentially leading to a German victory. In fact, the Zimmermann Telegram was intended to keep the United States out of the war by diverting their attention towards Mexico. In the telegram, Zimmermann stated that "The [US] President may not take the matter seriously," suggesting that he believed the US would not enter the war. Furthermore, Mexico may have taken the offer seriously, as they were already experiencing tensions with the US over border disputes. As historian Barbara Tuchman notes, "The interception of the Zimmermann Telegram made possible the victory of the Western democracies in 1918; without it, they might have lost."