The Career of
Woodrow Wilson
Julia Wines
Education
Wilson spent his early years learning
under his father at their home in
Columbia, SC
 In 1873, he attended Davidson College in
NC for one year before transferring to
Princeton
 This is where he became interested in
political history and philosophy, and
became active in debating

1879: Wilson studies law at University of
Virginia, though his weak health hinders
his graduation
 Worked in a law partnership with an old
classmate, but still hoped for a political
career
 Began studying at Johns Hopkins
University, earning him a Ph.D. in political
science and history (incidentally, Wilson is
currently the only President to have
earned a doctorate)

Early Positions
Served as President of Princeton 19021910
 Ran on the Democratic ticket for the
position of Governor of New Jersey, and
was in office from 1911 to 1913

Election of 1912


Wilson runs against Republican and
then-President William H. Taft, and
Theodore Roosevelt, running as a
Progressive with his Bull Moose Party
Wilson won by a substantial lead in
electoral votes
Political Standings
Wilson saw the United States constitution as a
weighty, out-dated way of governing
 Influenced by the writings of the English Walter
Bagehot, Wilson supported the organization of a
parliamentary system for the US
 Wilson’s views would later return to a simple
Democratic standard, working toward limited
government power, but with a partyindependent mindset.
 His plan to minimize wastefulness of and selfservice with the government was called the New
Freedom.

First Term, 1913-1917

Wilson began fulfilling the promises his
New Freedom plan had to offer
– Underwood Tariff Act: lowered taxes on
imports and exempted taxes on necessary
items (wool, lumber, milk, etc.)
– Federal Reserve Act: strengthened to the
banking system by conglomerating them
under one office
– Clayton Antitrust Act: served to break up the
power of monopolies
War in Europe
Wilson had little experience in foreign
policy, and believed in polite diplomacy
 After the assassination of Archduke
Ferdinand and the beginning of the war in
Europe, Wilson stood for neutrality
 As the war began to affect the economy,
however, Wilson was divided between
remaining neutral and aiding the Allies

The Lusitania and Loyalty
1915: After the sinking of the Lusitania
and the death of 123 American
passengers, citizens called for the
President to declare war
 Wilson still promoted his support of
neutrality through the end of his first
term, arguing that millions of unnecessary
deaths would result in avenging a few

Election of 1917

Wilson won his second term, winning in
the polls with the slogan: “He kept us out
of the war!”
Entering the War
After the interception of the Zimmerman
note and the imminent threat Germany
posed on the US, Wilson could no longer
ignore the need for action
 He asked Congress to declare war on
Germany in April 1917
 Always the courteous diplomat, Wilson still
hoped for a peaceful resolve

Resolving Peacefully
It was revealed that the British, French,
and Russian powers hoped to divide up
the German empire and profit from “stolen
treasures”
 Wilson believed this would only lead to
more war, and created his list of basic
guidelines for peace, the Fourteen Points

The Fourteen Points and the End of
the War

Along with more specific instructions, the
Fourteen points called for international peace
–
–
–
–
“No secret negotiations between nations”
“Freedom of navigation upon the seas”
“Removal of trade barriers between countries”
“Reduction of military weapons”
The list was met with great approval from
Congress
 July 14, 1918—fighting ends, and in October,
Germany accepts Wilson’s Points calls on the US
for peaceful resolution




An official armistice was announced on
November 11, which would later be
established as Veterans Day
Wilson met with leaders from France,
Britain and Italy (“the Big Four”) for
peace talks
Organized the Treaty of Versailles and
planned to form the League of Nations
For his diplomatic efforts,
Wilson would receive the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1920.
The Last Years
In 1919, Wilson suffered
a stroke that left him
paralyzed down his left
side and barely
functioning in office
 With the help of his
(second) wife Edith, his
cabinet and Congress,
Wilson carried out the
end of his demanding
term rather smoothly
 He retired from the
presidency in 1921, and
lived quietly in D.C. until
his death in 1924

Bibliography
– Dommermuth-Costa, Carol. Woodrow Wilson. Minneapolis, MN:
Lerner Publisher
Company, 2003. Print.
– Nordholt, J.W. Schulte. Woodrow Wilson: A Life for World Peace.
Trans. Herbert
H. Rowen. Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press,
1991. Print.

Photos
– Woodrow Wilson Gallery. N.d. Library of Congress. History
(Channel). Web. 18 Mar.
2011. <http://www.history.com/topics/woodrowwilson/photos>.
– "Electoral College map for the 1912 United States presidential
election." Map.
Wikipedia. N.p., 28 Dec. 2008. Web. 20 Mar. 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ElectoralCollege1912.svg>.