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| Woodrow Wilson |
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a new world order. In 1917 he proclaimed American entrance into World War I a crusade to
make the world "safe for democracy."
Wilson had seen the frightfulness of war. He was born in Virginia in 1856, the son of a
Presbyterian minister who during the Civil War was a pastor in Augusta, Georgia, and during
Reconstruction a professor in the charred city of Columbia, South Carolina.
After graduation from Princeton (then the College of New Jersey) and the University of
Virginia Law School, Wilson earned his doctorate at Johns Hopkins University and entered
upon an academic career. In 1885 he married Ellen Louise Axson.
Wilson advanced rapidly as a conservative young professor of political science and became
president of Princeton in 1902.
His growing national reputation led some conservative Democrats to consider him Presidential
timber. First they persuaded him to run for Governor of New Jersey in 1910. In the campaign
he asserted his independence of the conservatives and of the machine that had nominated
him, endorsing a progressive platform, which he pursued as governor.
He was nominated for President at the 1912 Democratic Convention and campaigned on a
program called the New Freedom, which stressed individualism and states' rights. In the
three-way election he received only 42 percent of the popular vote but an overwhelming
electoral vote.
Wilson maneuvered through Congress three major pieces of legislation. The first was a lower
tariff, the Underwood Act; attached to the measure was a graduated Federal income tax. The
passage of the Federal Reserve Act provided the Nation with the more elastic money supply it
badly needed. In 1914 antitrust legislation established a Federal Trade Commission to
prohibit unfair business practices.
Another burst of legislation followed in 1916. One new law prohibited child labor; another
limited railroad workers to an eight-hour day. By virtue of this legislation and the slogan "he
kept us out of war," Wilson narrowly won re-election.
But after the election Wilson concluded that America could not remain neutral in the World
War. On April 2,1917, he asked Congress for a declaration of war on Germany.
Massive American effort slowly tipped the balance in favor of the Allies. Wilson went before
Congress in January 1918, to enunciate American war aims--the Fourteen Points, the last of
which would establish "A general association of nations...affording mutual guarantees of
political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike."
After the Germans signed the Armistice in November 1918, Wilson went to Paris to try to
build an enduring peace. He later presented to the Senate the Versailles Treaty, containing
the Covenant of the League of Nations, and asked, "Dare we reject it and break the heart of
the world?"
But the election of 1918 had shifted the balance in Congress to the Republicans. By seven
votes the Versailles Treaty failed in the Senate.
The President, against the warnings of his doctors, had made a national tour to mobilize
public sentiment for the treaty. Exhausted, he suffered a stroke and nearly died. Tenderly
nursed by his second wife, Edith Bolling Galt, he lived until 1924.
make the world "safe for democracy."
Wilson had seen the frightfulness of war. He was born in Virginia in 1856, the son of a
Presbyterian minister who during the Civil War was a pastor in Augusta, Georgia, and during
Reconstruction a professor in the charred city of Columbia, South Carolina.
After graduation from Princeton (then the College of New Jersey) and the University of
Virginia Law School, Wilson earned his doctorate at Johns Hopkins University and entered
upon an academic career. In 1885 he married Ellen Louise Axson.
Wilson advanced rapidly as a conservative young professor of political science and became
president of Princeton in 1902.
His growing national reputation led some conservative Democrats to consider him Presidential
timber. First they persuaded him to run for Governor of New Jersey in 1910. In the campaign
he asserted his independence of the conservatives and of the machine that had nominated
him, endorsing a progressive platform, which he pursued as governor.
He was nominated for President at the 1912 Democratic Convention and campaigned on a
program called the New Freedom, which stressed individualism and states' rights. In the
three-way election he received only 42 percent of the popular vote but an overwhelming
electoral vote.
Wilson maneuvered through Congress three major pieces of legislation. The first was a lower
tariff, the Underwood Act; attached to the measure was a graduated Federal income tax. The
passage of the Federal Reserve Act provided the Nation with the more elastic money supply it
badly needed. In 1914 antitrust legislation established a Federal Trade Commission to
prohibit unfair business practices.
Another burst of legislation followed in 1916. One new law prohibited child labor; another
limited railroad workers to an eight-hour day. By virtue of this legislation and the slogan "he
kept us out of war," Wilson narrowly won re-election.
But after the election Wilson concluded that America could not remain neutral in the World
War. On April 2,1917, he asked Congress for a declaration of war on Germany.
Massive American effort slowly tipped the balance in favor of the Allies. Wilson went before
Congress in January 1918, to enunciate American war aims--the Fourteen Points, the last of
which would establish "A general association of nations...affording mutual guarantees of
political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike."
After the Germans signed the Armistice in November 1918, Wilson went to Paris to try to
build an enduring peace. He later presented to the Senate the Versailles Treaty, containing
the Covenant of the League of Nations, and asked, "Dare we reject it and break the heart of
the world?"
But the election of 1918 had shifted the balance in Congress to the Republicans. By seven
votes the Versailles Treaty failed in the Senate.
The President, against the warnings of his doctors, had made a national tour to mobilize
public sentiment for the treaty. Exhausted, he suffered a stroke and nearly died. Tenderly
nursed by his second wife, Edith Bolling Galt, he lived until 1924.
Born on December 28th, 1856,
Woodrow Wilson was the 28th
President of the United States of
America. Wilson served two terms
from March 4th, 1913 to March 4th,
1921.
Like Roosevelt before him,
Woodrow Wilson regarded himself
as the personal representative of
the people. "No one but the
President," he said, "seems to be
expected ... to look out for the
general interests of the country."
He developed a program of
progressive reform and asserted
international leadership in building
Woodrow Wilson was the 28th
President of the United States of
America. Wilson served two terms
from March 4th, 1913 to March 4th,
1921.
Like Roosevelt before him,
Woodrow Wilson regarded himself
as the personal representative of
the people. "No one but the
President," he said, "seems to be
expected ... to look out for the
general interests of the country."
He developed a program of
progressive reform and asserted
international leadership in building
