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Woodrow Wilson, born 1856, died 1924, was America’s 28th president. He was a
democrat, and served between 1913-1921, during WWI. Woodrow Wilson became
president after being the governor of New Jersey for 3 years. He was put on the ballet
because of the support from William Jennings Bryan, who in his own time ran for
president. Wilson won the election because Roosevelt and Taft split the Republican
votes. Wilson was a progressive president, and his domestic programs exemplified that
fact. He instituted New Freedom and the Federal reserve system and Federal Trade
Commission. He was against both imperialism and isolationism, and showed these views
during his presidency. During his first term, while the Germans and other axis powers
were ravaging Europe and hurting US trade to these countries, Wilson kept the US out of
war. However, the Germans sank many of our ships, most notably the Lusitiania, on
which 126 Americans were killed. During his reelection campaign, he ran on the slogan,
“He kept us out of the War.” 
On April 6, 1917, the US declared war on Germany. On
January 8th, 1918, Wilson delivered his fourteen point speech to congress, which detailed
a plan for freedom after the war, and was designed to provide for peace after the war.
The outlined a plan for peace, which included a free Poland, free waters, free trade, and a
league of nations. This speech greatly demoralized the Germans, who were fighting
against America at this point, and less than a year after the war ended, the Germans
surrendered. The Germans agreed to an armistice, and a conference. They entered the
conference expecting the basis of a treaty to involve Wilson’s fourteen points. However,
after the war at the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, even though his fourteen points
was a key part of the treaty, Wilson gave in on smaller points which lost the credibility of
the treaty to congress and American public. Other nations all wanted vengeance on the
axis powers, so huge reparations were required. When it was presented to congress, the
treaty was not ratified, missing ratification by 7 votes. Thus, the US didn’t join the
League of Nations established in the treaty. This was mainly because of Henry Cabot
Lodge, Hiram Johnson, Robert LaFollette, isolationists who opposed any league of
nations, and spoke out against the treaty, new league established in the treaty, and
Wilson. So even though Wilson’s fourteen points helped to found the League of Nations,
an international organization whose creation was in the Treaty of Versailles, the USA
would not join. In his last years of presidency, Wilson went around the country trying to
earn support for the league, and hopefully to gain membership for America.
Unfortunately, he suffered a stroke in 1919, and never fully recovered. During that same
year, Wilson won the Nobel Peace Prize. For the rest of his life he was cared for by his
second wife Edith Galt Wilson. He continued to serve presidency however until the end
of his term, being able to perform every day details of presidency.
