How did the zimmerman telegram lead to extent has america lived up to its founding values?

The Zimmerman Telegram was captured, translated from the English in Room 40.  Mexico was told to join the central powers side and in return they will get west, and southwest back from the USA.  

Once America gets land, they will not get it back, part of the idea of Manifest Destiny.  America can not afford to lose California, and other states.   

The enlightenment helped Thomas Paine create The Common Sense and the also helped Thomas Jefferson create the first draft of The Declaration of Independence