Today's Agenda

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Today's Agenda
Bellwork Announcements Questions Bellwork
Review Lecture
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Woodrow Wilson's Presidency Todays
StandardUS.20 Analyze the significant
progressive achievements during the
administration of Woodrow Wilson, including his
New Freedom, the Underwood Tariff, the Federal
Reserve Act, and the Clayton Anti-Trust Act. (E,
H, P)

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Objective
Understand how Woodrow Wilson's Presidency
impacted the United States.

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One of 5 greatest presidents of all time


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The Career of Woodrow Wilson
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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

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• 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)

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Early Positions

• Served as President of Princeton 1902-1910
• Ran on the Democratic ticket for the position of
  Governor of New Jersey, and was in office from
  1911 to 1913

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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

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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
• Wilsons views would later return to a simple
  Democratic standard, working toward limited
  government power, but with a party-independent
  mindset.
• His plan to minimize wastefulness of and
  self-service with the government was called the
  New Freedom.

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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

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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

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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
• http//www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/lusitani
  a
• 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

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Election of 1917

• Wilson won his second term, winning in the polls
  with the slogan He kept us out of the war!

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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
• http//www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next/history/d
  ocument-deep-dive-what-did-the-zimmermann-telegram
  -say-29792028/
• He asked Congress to declare war on Germany in
  April 1917
• Always the courteous diplomat, Wilson still hoped
  for a peaceful resolution

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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

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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, 1918fighting ends, and in October,
  Germany accepts Wilsons Points calls on the US
  for peaceful resolution

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• 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.
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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

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Woodrow Wilson's Presidency Todays
StandardUS.20 Analyze the significant
progressive achievements during the
administration of Woodrow Wilson, including his
New Freedom, the Underwood Tariff, the Federal
Reserve Act, and the Clayton Anti-Trust Act. (E,
H, P)

21
Objective
Understand how Woodrow Wilson's Presidency
impacted the United States.