Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson was 28th President of the US from 1913 to 1921. He is best remembered for his role in the First World War – keeping the US out of the war, until reluctantly entering in 1917. At the end of the war, Woodrow Wilson formulated his 14 points, which sought to create an international League of Nations and institute principles of self-determination and justice as the basis for the armistice.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919.

Woodrow Wilson was also a progressive with attempts to control big business and end elitism in universities.

Life of Woodrow Wilson

He was born in December 28, 1856 in Staunton Virginia. His father identified with the confederacy and defended slavery. However, Woodrow Wilson did not share his father’s views on this, later writing.

Because I love the South, I rejoice in the failure of the Confederacy. March 1880).

In 1885, he married Ellen Louise Axon and together they had three daughters. Wilson studied at John Hopkins University and gained a PhD in history and political science. He went on to have a distinguished academic career becoming the principle of Princeton.

He felt the University of Princeton was underachieving – being held back by elitism and laid back standards. This led to a stand of with Wilson trying to tackle the elitist traditions of Princeton. This proved to be a bruising encounter and was a key factor in encouraging Wilson to turn to politics. He ran for governor of New Jersey in 1910 as a progressive candidate and he was nominated as the Democratic candidate at the 1912 Democratic convention. Winning the Presidency, Wilson embarked on a series of progressive legislation. This included:

• Graduated income tax.
• Anti trust legislation against big business and vested monopoly powers.
• Greater protection for labour, e.g. new restrictions on child labour.
• Federal Reserve act creating greater ability to increase money supply.

No country can afford to have its prosperity originated by a small controlling class.

The New Freedom, 1913.

Despite progressive social and economic policies, he expanded a policy of segregation and disappointed many African Americans who switched allegiance to the Democrat party who voted for Wilson on promises of equal rights. Wilson said on segregation:

“segregation is not a humiliation but a benefit, and ought to be so regarded by you gentlemen.”

In 1916, he narrowly won re-election campaigning on an anti-war stance.

However, after 1916, public opinion hardened against Germany. Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare, such as the sinking of the Lusitania, led to serious American casualties. Then in January 1917, the publication of the Zimmerman Telegram suggested Germany was willing to help Mexico regain territory in Southern US. By April 1917, Wilson had overcome his deep reluctance to go to war and asked congress to declare war on the government of Germany. Congress overwhelmingly supported the decision.

In 1917, the US army was very small, and to the Allies disappointment, it took time for the US army to make a difference on the western front. However, by 1918, the steady increase in number of American troops was beginning to make a difference, and helped to swing the balance against Germany. By November 1918, the Germans surrendered.

At the end of the war, Woodrow Wilson presented his 14 points to the Allies as a basis for a just armistice. 

More and source: http://www.biographyonline.net/nobelprize/woodrow-wilson.html