Woodrow+Wilson



Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia in 1865. He was the son of a Presbyterian minister who was a pastor in Augusta during the Civil War. He attended Princeton and University of Virginia Law School. Wilson earned his doctorate at Johns Hopkins University. In 1885 he married Ellen Louise Axson. Wilson became president of Princeton in 1902. In 1910 some Democrats who viewed him as possible president material convinced him to run for governor of New Jersey. He was nominated for President at the 1912 Democratic Convention and campaigned on a program called the New Freedom, which stressed individualism and state’s rights.

Wilson became president of Princeton in 1902. In 1910 some Democrats who viewed him as possible president material convinced him to run for governor of New Jersey. He was nominated for President at the 1912 Democratic Convention and campaigned on a program called the New Freedom, which stressed individualism and state’s rights. After he was elected to president, Wilson passed three major pieces of legislation; a lower tariff, the Underwood Act, and a progressive Federal income tax. In 1916 Wilson prohibited child labor, and limited the work day for railroad workers to eight hours. After this, Wilson was re-elected. On April 2, 1917, Wilson requested Congress to declare war on Germany. Incredible effort from America resulted in the war favoring the Allies. Wilson later exhibited the Versailles Treaty to the Senate, but it failed by seven votes.



Towards the end of his life Wilson embarked upon a national tour to increase public attitude towards the treaty. His doctors had advised he not go on this tour, and it proved too much for him. Wilson suffered a stroke from exhaustion and came close to death. His second wife, Edith Bolling Galt, nursed him until his death in 1924.