Thomas Woodrow Wilson Biography

Birth of Thomas Woodrow Wilson

Enters the University of Virginia Law School

Opens a legal practice

Publication of "Congressional Government"

Marries Ellen Axson

Awarded Ph. D at John Hopkins university

Appointed Professor of Jurisprudence & Political Economy

Publication of "A History of the American People"

Appointed President of Princeton

Elected Governor of New Jersey

Nominated presidential candidate

Roosevelt splits the Republicans by forming the Progressive Party. Elected President of the USA

Roosevelt splits the Republicans by forming the Progressive Party

Founds the Dept of Labor

Appointed President of the USA, 28th President

Inaugurated President of the USA, 28th

Resumes the "State of the Union Address" to Congress after a break of 112 years

Resumes the "State of the Union Address" to Congress after a break of 112 years

The 17th Amendment to the US Constitution allows for the popular election of senators

The 17th Amendment to the US Constitution allows for the popular election of senators

The USA declares a boycott against Mexico after the expulsion of Americans

President Wilson opens the Panama Canal

The Underwood Tariff Act reduces duties where US goods control the market. The Underwood Tariff Act reduces duties on commodities

Gives President Huerta of Mexico an ultimatum to resign

The USA will lend Colombia $25million for its recognition of Panamanian independence

The USA will lend Colombia $25million for its recognition of Panamanian independence

A Treaty is signed allowing Colombia certain privileges in Panama

The USA will lend Colombia $25million for its recognition of Panamanian independence

US forces bombard & seize the Mexican port of Vera Cruz

The US House of Representatives rejected a proposal to give woment the vote

The US House of Representatives rejected a proposal to give woment the vote

A US steamer is torpedoed off the Scilly Isles by a German submarine, 3 lives are lost

Gulflight was torpedoed by U-30 on 1 May 1915 but did not sink; she was towed to safety and later returned to service.

Germany sinks the Cunard liner Lusitania, 1152 lives are lost including 102 Americans

Wilson's administration sent Germany diplomatic notes after Lusitania's loss, challenging attacks on passenger and neutral shipping.

President Woodrow Wilson issues executive order making "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem, Congress confirms it, 1931

Offers to mediate war aims of the Allies & Central Powers, the Germans fail to answer

Offers to mediate war aims of the Allies & Central Powers, the Germans fail to answer

President Woodrow Wilson issues executive order making "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem, Congress confirms it, 1931

Offers the good offices of the US in the interests of peace

Says "There will be no war...it would be a crime against civilisation for us to go in"

Declares war on Germany after approval by the Senate & House of Representatives. Declares war as an "associated power" giving the US independence from France & Britain

Draft registration day for nearly 10 million men aged 21-31

The Senate refuses to ratify Wilson's guarantee of the French frontiers

The 14th point, "A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike"

The 1st point, "Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view".

The 2nd point, "Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas, outside territorial waters, alike in peace and in war, except as the seas may be closed in whole or in part by international action for the enforcement of international covenants".

The 3rd point, "The removal, so far as possible, of all economic barriers and the establishment of equality of trade conditions among all the nations consenting to the peace and associating themselves for its maintenance".

The 4th point, "Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety".

The Fourteen Points in Wilson's speech are based on the research of the Inquiry, a team of about 150 advisers led by foreign-policy adviser Edward M. House into the topics likely to arise in the anticipated peace conference.

Wilson's speech takes many of the principles of progressivism that had produced domestic reform in the US and translated them into foreign policy (free trade, open agreements, democracy, and self-determination). Wilson is awarded the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize for his peace-making efforts.

The 1st point, "Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view"

Calls for a general association of nations to preserve peace.

Founded to preserve national independence, 14 points

Wilson calls for a general association of nations in the Fourteen Points.

Wilson calls for a general association of nations in the Fourteen Points.

Wills tells the Senate that womens suffrage is "a vitally necessary war measure"

Wills tells the Senate that womens suffrage is "a vitally necessary war measure"

Senate rejects womens suffrage for a 3rd time

Senate rejects womens suffrage for a 3rd time

Germany requests an armistice

Says that military rulers & autocratic monarchs in German are an obstacle to peace

Presses the peace conference to include a League covenant.

The US fails to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and join the League of Nations

The Senate refuses to ratify Versailles, keeping the United States outside the League.

The Senate rejects League membership after the Versailles dispute.