Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. His presidency was marked by sweeping domestic reforms and a bold vision for international diplomacy.
Early Life and Career
- Born: December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Virginia
- Education: Earned a Ph.D. in political science from Johns Hopkins University—the only U.S. president to hold a Ph.D.
- Academic Career: Served as president of Princeton University (1902–1910), where he pushed for progressive educational reforms.
- Governor of New Jersey: From 1911 to 1913, known for breaking with party bosses and enacting progressive legislation.
- Political Rise
- Governor of New Jersey (1911–1913):
- Broke with party bosses and pushed progressive reforms, including labor protections and corporate regulation.
- Presidential Election of 1912:
- Won against incumbent William Howard Taft and third-party candidate Theodore Roosevelt.
- Campaigned on the “New Freedom” platform, emphasizing states’ rights, antitrust laws, and banking reform.
- Domestic Achievements
- Wilson’s first term was marked by sweeping progressive legislation:
- Underwood Tariff Act (1913): Lowered tariffs and introduced a graduated income tax.
- Federal Reserve Act (1913): Created the Federal Reserve System to stabilize the banking sector.
- Clayton Antitrust Act (1914): Strengthened antitrust laws and protected labor unions.
- Federal Trade Commission (1914): Established to prevent unfair business practices.
- Child Labor and Labor Laws (1916): Banned child labor and mandated an 8-hour workday for railroad workers.
- World War I and Foreign Policy
- Neutrality to Engagement:
- Maintained neutrality at the war’s outset but shifted after repeated German provocations, including unrestricted submarine warfare.
- Declared war on Germany in April 1917, framing it as a crusade “to make the world safe for democracy”
- Postwar Vision and the League of Nations
- Fourteen Points (1918): Wilson’s blueprint for peace, advocating self-determination, free trade, and a League of Nations
- Treaty of Versailles (1919):
- Wilson played a central role in negotiations but faced opposition at home.
- The U.S. Senate rejected the treaty, largely due to concerns over the League of Nations compromising U.S. sovereignty.
- Final Years and Legacy
- Stroke and Decline:
- Suffered a debilitating stroke in 1919, leaving him incapacitated for much of his final year in office
- His wife, Edith Wilson, played an unusually active role in managing presidential duties
- Death: February 3, 1924, in Washington, D.C.
Lesson Learning 