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Wilson dates the presidency. Woodrow Wilson's biography. Paris Peace Conference

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born in Stoughton, Virginia, to Joseph Wilson, Doctor of Divinity (1822-1903) and Janet Woodrow (1826-1888). His family is of Scottish and Irish descent, his grandparents emigrated from Strabane, Northern Ireland, while his mother was born in Carlisle to a Scottish family. Wilson's father was from Steubenville, Ohio, where his grandfather was the publisher of an abolitionist newspaper. His parents moved south in 1851 and joined the Confederacy. His father defended slavery, ran a Sunday school for slaves, and served as a priest in the Confederate army. Wilson's father was one of the founders of the Southern Presbyterian Church Society after it split from the Northern in 1861. Thomas Woodrow Wilson did not learn to read until about 12 years old, had difficulty learning. He mastered shorthand and made significant efforts to compensate for the learning gap. He studied at his father's home, then - in a small school in Augusta. In 1873 he entered Davidson College in North Carolina, then entered Princeton University in 1879. Starting from the second year of study, he was actively interested in political philosophy and history. He was an active participant in the informal discussion club, organized an independent Liberal Discussion Society. In 1879, Wilson attended law school at the University of Virginia, but he did not receive higher education there. Due to poor health, he went home to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he continued his independent studies. Woodrow Wilson In January 1882, Wilson decided to begin his legal practice in Atlanta. One of Wilson's classmates at the University of Virginia invited Wilson to join his law firm as a partner. Wilson joined the partnership in May 1882 and began his legal practice. There was fierce competition in the city with 143 other lawyers, Wilson rarely managed cases and quickly became disillusioned with legal work. Wilson studied legislation in order to enter politics, but realized that he could continue his scientific research and at the same time practice law in order to gain experience. In April 1883, Wilson applied to Johns Hopkins University to study for a Ph.D. and a history of political science, and in July 1883 left law practice to pursue an academic career, and was elected governor of New Jersey in November 1910. As governor, he did not follow the party line and decided for himself what to do. Wilson held a primary in New Jersey for the internal election of candidates and a number of social laws (for example, workers' insurance against accidents). Because of all this, he became famous outside one region. Woodrow Wilson ran for president of the Democratic Party as Governor of New Jersey. His candidacy was nominated by the Democratic Party as a compromise in Baltimore at a meeting of June 25 - July 2, after a prolonged internal party crisis. In the election, Wilson's main rivals were the then 27th President of the United States, William Taft of the Republican Party and the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, who, following his resignation, severed ties with Taft and the Republican Party and formed the Progressive Party. Roosevelt and Taft vied for the Republican votes, causing division and confusion in the camp of their supporters, which greatly facilitated the task of Democrat Wilson. According to American political scientists, if Roosevelt did not participate in the elections, Wilson would hardly have won against Taft. In addition, US Vice President James Sherman died on October 30, 1912, leaving Taft without a vice presidential candidate. In the election, Woodrow Wilson received 41.8% of the vote, Theodore Roosevelt 27.4%, William Taft 23.2 %. Woodrow Wilson won most of the states and subsequently received 435 of 531 electoral votes. Thomas Marshall was elected Vice President of the United States.

Children Margaret Woodrow Wilson [d], Jesse Woodrow Wilson [d] and Eleanor Wilson Macadoo [d] Education Davidson College (unfinished)
Princeton University (BA)
University of Virginia (unfinished)
Johns Hopkins University (PhD) Place of work

Princeton University
Wesleyan university
University of Virginia
Bryn More College

Thomas Woudreau Wilson(English Thomas Woodrow Wilson, usually without the first name - Woodrow Wilson; December 28th (1856-12-28 ) , Staunton, Virginia - February 3rd, Washington, DC) - 28th President of the United States (-). He is also known as a historian and political scientist. Laureate of the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to him for his peacekeeping efforts.

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✪ Fourteen Points by Woodrow Wilson

✪ Wilson, Woodrow

✪ The Great War is not over. Film Seventh - "American Troopers, or the Transformation into a Great Power"

✪ Woodrow Wilson

✪ Lloyd George, David

Subtitles

Moving on to January 1918, let us once again recall how the situation with the First World War developed on the eve. First of all, in April 1917, many important events happened, America declared war on Germany. Its main argument was the unlimited submarine war waged by the Germans. So, in 1917, the United States declares war on Germany. In addition, the Russian Empire collapsed. The collapse of the Russian Empire. Let's write this down. A revolution took place, as a result of which the tsar was overthrown, this was in February - March 1917. Then, in October, the Bolsheviks staged a coup. Having seized power, they have no interest in continuing the war with Germany. Therefore, a truce is announced and negotiations begin on the conditions for concluding a treaty with the central powers. That is, there was a discussion of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty, which we talked about. And in the end, as you understand, due to the fact that the central powers no longer needed to think about Russia and the Eastern Front, they, and especially Germany, tried to transfer their troops, and return troops to the Western Front, they wanted to do it before the United States could carry out a sufficiently serious mobilization. So, the race on the Western Front ... On the Western Front. The question was, will Germany have time to transfer troops and carry out an offensive that will force France to withdraw from the war, before the United States has the opportunity to significantly strengthen the Allied forces on the Western Front? That is, a race between the Germans, who were transferring troops from the Eastern Front, German troops ... Troops from the Eastern Front against the new American troops ... Against the Americans. This is what the setting looked like. Nobody knew how the situation on the Western Front would develop. Some military analysts said that Germany could wage a war on two fronts against the main empire and Russia, and now she could fully concentrate on the Western Front. Germany will be able to deliver the decisive blow. Others said that the United States is a rapidly developing power, it will provide fresh troops, it has a powerful industrial potential. America can, especially if the war drags on, become a decisive force in the ranks of the allies. This was the situation when President Wilson, Woodrow Wilson, on January 8, 1918, delivered a speech at a joint session of the Senate and Congress. Here is part of his talk. I'll just go over it. I'm not going to read the entire talk. He talked about a lot, in particular why we are participating in the First World War, what are the moral reasons for the First World War. His speech became famous for the so-called "Fourteen Points". Let's read it, because it will help you understand what is the meaning of the Versailles Treaty. This is a peace treaty with Germany, which the United States, oddly enough, has not ratified. Wilson's speech helps to understand the contradictions that arose at the Paris Peace Conference after the First World War, between those who were idealistic, like Woodrow Wilson, and those who were, say, more vengeful toward the Central Powers. So, here is an excerpt from the speech: “We entered this war because there have been violations of rights that will soon affect us and will make the life of our people impossible if they are not eliminated and the world is secured once and for all from their possible repetition. Thus, everything we strive for in this war is not something unusual for us: it is to make the world safe, in order to live in it ... ". This is very idealistic. Remember, all these countries, especially European ones, were interested in who would get what territory, empire, or someone's colony. “And especially” - I continue - “safe for all peace-loving states, which, like ours, want to live their own lives, define their own political institutions, have guarantees of fair and just treatment from other peoples of the world as opposed to force and self-serving aggression. All the peoples of the world are, in fact, partners in achieving these goals, and, for our part, we clearly realize that if we are not fair to others, justice will not be shown to us. Thus, the program for world peace is our program, and this, in our opinion, the only possible program is as follows ... ”. This is his "Fourteen Points", and for each I will try to say a few words. The first point: "Open peace treaties, openly discussed, after the conclusion of which no secret international agreements are allowed, and diplomacy must always act honestly and openly to the public." This is a reference to the fact that after the Bolsheviks seized power, they began to disclose the content of all secret agreements and treaties that the Russian Empire signed. We have already talked about all the intrigues and alliances that led to the First World War, so Wilson here was trying to say: “Let's do everything openly. This will give everyone the opportunity to understand what to expect from other countries. " Keep nothing secret. Clause 2. "Absolute freedom of navigation on the high seas, outside the territorial waters, both in peacetime and in wartime, except for cases when the high seas can be closed in whole or in part by an international act in order to comply with international agreements." So no more British blockades, no more unlimited submarine warfare, the only time we can dictate what happens in international waters is if the international community decides that it wants to apply international agreements. Number 3. "Removing all economic barriers and creating equal terms of trade for all states that maintain peace and come together to maintain it." Essentially, this is a free trade proposal ... Free trade ... Number 4. “Making and promulgating commitments to ensure that national armaments are reduced to the lowest level that meets national security requirements.” That is, he is trying to refute the idea of militarism, the arms race that led to the First World War with its incredible brutality and the speed with which it swept the whole world. 5 pips "Free, objective and completely unbiased settlement of all colonial claims based on strict observance of the principle that, when discussing all issues of sovereignty, the interests of specific peoples should be taken into account on an equal basis with the fair demands of those governments whose rights are to be determined." This is an important question that probably did not please the British or French. This refers to the self-determination of the peoples living in these countries, and their interests should be taken into account equally. I continue. "Free, objective and completely unbiased settlement of all colonial claims." This is a very important point. Remember, we are talking about the period of empires, and most European states believed that their international empires determined their political prestige. So, point number 6. "The liberation of the entire Russian territory and such a settlement of all issues concerning Russia, which could guarantee the most fruitful and free cooperation of all states of the world with the aim of providing Russia with an unhindered and unhindered opportunity to independently and independently determine the path of its political development. and national policy; and to provide her with a warm welcome into the society of free states with her free choice of a political system ... ”. This is still another sentence, separated by semicolons, which possibly underlines the next point. “And also, in addition to a warm welcome, to provide all kinds of help that she needs and that she herself wishes. Attitude towards Russia from its kindred states in the coming months ... ”. You remember that Russia is negotiating with the central powers on the Brest-Litovsk Treaty, "... will be a serious test of their goodwill, their understanding of its needs, and not their own interests, their disinterested sympathy for it." Wilson does not know who will win on the Western Front, the Allies or the Central Powers, but they do know that the Central Powers dictate to Russia the terms of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty. Wilson means that this will be a test of their goodwill, understanding the needs of the new state that emerged after the Bolsheviks seized power. Obviously, at this time there was still no antagonism between the United States and the future Soviet Union, which would soon arise. By this Wilson says to give Russia a chance to be itself. Number 7. “Withdrawal of all foreign troops from Belgium. The whole world will agree that this country must be restored without any attempts to limit its sovereignty, which it enjoys on an equal basis with other free states. " It is obvious. When the Germans advanced through Belgium to crush France, it served as a pretext for Britain to enter the war. So hands off Belgium. 8 pips “The entire French territory must be liberated, all the occupied territories must be returned, all the injustices committed by Prussia towards France in 1871 on the issue of Alsace and Lorraine, and which have violated world peace over the past fifty years, must be eliminated, in the name of ensuring peace in the interests of all ”. Alsace and Lorraine, we have already talked about them several times. This region is located here. It was occupied by Germany as part of the unification of Germany during the Franco-Prussian War and the region is rich in minerals. This could be one of the reasons why France could go to war against Germany, as well as the fact that Germany wanted to launch a preemptive strike against France under the pretext that France might want to return these territories. 9 pips "The borders of Italy should be established in accordance with well-defined national boundaries." 10 pips "The peoples of Austria-Hungary, a country whose place among states we want to see guaranteed, should be given an unlimited opportunity for independent development." This is another important point. On the self-determination of another empire. This is another of the Fourteen Points, dealing with the issue of self-determination. Austria-Hungary, as we have already said, was an empire. And people of many, many nationalities lived in it. Czechs lived here. There are Slovaks. There are Austrians here, whose native language is German. Hungarians lived there. In these places there are Slovenes. The Croats are about here. And here are the Bosnians. People of a wide variety of nationalities lived there, especially in areas near the borders of Romania and Ukraine. What I meant was to give them, these people, the freedom to determine their own destiny in a certain sense. People of all these nationalities. So, this was point number 10. "Unlimited opportunity for independent development." He does not say that they need to create their own states, but they should be able to self-rule. Point number 11. “Foreign troops must be withdrawn from Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and their territories must be returned. Serbia should be given access to the sea, relations between the Balkan states should be determined through friendly consultations in accordance with the historically established definitions of citizenship and nationality, the Balkan states should be guaranteed political and economic independence and territorial integrity. " Thus, the foundations of the future state of Yugoslavia are laid. It is located right here. It is a state of the South Slavs, and its creation was the motive for the assassination of Gavrilo by the Principle of Archduke Ferdinand, which is said to have been the spark that sparked the First World War. “The Turkish regions of the modern Ottoman Empire should be guaranteed reliable sovereignty, but all the peoples now under Turkish rule should be guaranteed the safety of life and given the opportunity for free and independent development ...” And again we are talking about self-determination. "The Dardanelles must always be open for free passage of ships and the development of trade of all countries under international guarantees." The Dardanelles, as we talked about earlier, they are located here, and represent the strait between the Aegean and Black Seas. So we are nearing the end. Then: “An independent Polish state must be created, which will include territories with an undeniable Polish population. The state will be provided with free and unhindered access to the sea, and its political and economic independence and territorial integrity are guaranteed by an international agreement. " Before the First World War, Poland did not exist as an independent state. Now Woodrow Wilson is in favor of its creation. It will be set up around this area, right here. And, finally, point number 14. "Through the conclusion of special agreements, an alliance of states should be created in order to ensure equal mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity for both large and small countries." It is this point that leads to the creation of the League of Nations. If we talk about great ideas, then this is it, especially for those years. In Europe of that time, wars between states took place every now and then. Why don't we all cooperate at this average level, and we will create such a "club" of all states to resolve disputes and ensure that we do not allow another World War. So this is a very idealistic idea. It was recorded in the final document of the Versailles Treaty, which was prepared at the Paris Peace Conference, which took place after the end of the First World War. Unfortunately for the League of Nations, President Woodrow Wilson's idea and the Treaty of Versailles itself and the League of Nations have not been ratified by the United States of America. The United States never joined the League of Nations, because of which it was, as it were, "incomplete", and the League of Nations did not have the strength and ability to prevent the Second World War, which broke out after only a couple of decades. Later, the League of Nations was replaced by the UN. So it was a really great idea. It was expressed by Woodrow Wilson. Everyone in Europe talks about territories, imperialism and how to seize control over other people, seize control over their resources, and the American president talks about the right to self-determination, how to make the world more democratic, safe for commerce, and open agreements. This is a very powerful idea. This is a kind of basis for the more idealistic side of American foreign policy of the 20th century. Yes, there is another, very cynical side that takes self-interest into account, but this is the idealistic side of 20th century American foreign policy. For this, for his work in this area, Wilson was awarded the Nobel Prize a few years later. Here in the photo you can see how both sides of the Nobel medal look like. Well, now let's talk a little about the contradictions, because we are moving on to the Paris Peace Conference, and there not everyone was idealists. It is clear that the European countries suffered much heavier losses than the Americans, although the Americans also made a very large contribution to the common effort and lost many soldiers. But if you, for example, are French, then the Germans have occupied your territory. You have lost a significant portion of your population, a very large portion of your male population. Of course, you are more angry with the Germans. Therefore, Georges Clemenceau, who was the prime minister of France, was rather skeptical about the Fourteen Points. Here is one of his expressions, and he has a lot of interesting ones: “Mr. Wilson bored me with his“ Fourteen Points ”. After all, the Lord Almighty has only ten of them. " This is a kind of foreshadowing of the contradictions between Clemenceau, the British and European allies on the one hand, and the Americans. The controversy that we will see at the Paris Peace Conference. They were more looking for a way to take revenge on the Germans, while the Americans, in particular Wilson, were much more idealistic. Subtitles by the Amara.org community

Origin

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, Virginia, to Joseph Wilson, D.Sc. (-) and Janet Woodrow (-). The mother's surname became his second (and later - the first) name.

Scottish and Irish blood predominated in Woodrow Wilson's veins. His paternal grandparents emigrated to the United States in 1807 from Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Having settled in Ohio, Wilson's grandfather soon began publishing the abolitionist and protectionist newspaper The Western Herald and Gazette. In Steubenville, Ohio, he had a son, Joseph Ruggles, who did not follow in his father's footsteps.

Presbyterian theologian Joseph Ruggles Wilson married Janet Woodrow, a native of Carlisle (Cumberland, England). Her father, Dr. Thomas Woodrow, and her mother, Marion Williamson, were Scots. In 1851, Joseph and Janet moved to the South, where Joseph Ruggles Wilson soon bought slaves and declared himself an ideological defender of slavery. However, being a relatively humane man, Joseph organized a Sunday school for his slaves. In 1861, the Wilsons came out in support of the Confederation. At the church, they opened a hospital for the wounded soldiers. Joseph Ruggles Wilson co-founded the Southern Presbyterian Church Society (which split from the Northern in 1861). Joseph Ruggles soon joined the Confederate Army as a chaplain. Of the childhood memories of Woodrow Wilson, the most vivid words of his father were: "Abraham Lincoln was elected president - then there will be war!" and meeting with General Robert Lee.

Childhood, adolescence

Thomas Woodrow Wilson did not learn to read until about 12 years old, with learning difficulties. Then he mastered stenography and made significant efforts to compensate for the gap in studies. He studied at his father's home, then - in a small school in Augusta.

Second presidential term (1917-1921)

During his second presidential term, Wilson focused his efforts on World War I, which the United States entered on April 6, 1917, just over a month after the start of Wilson's second presidential term.

The decision on the participation of the United States in the war

When Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in early 1917, Wilson made the decision for the United States to enter World War I. He did not sign allied agreements with Great Britain or France, preferring to act independently as an "associated" (rather than allied) country. He formed a large army through conscription and appointed General John Pershing as commander, leaving him considerable margin of appreciation in matters of tactics, strategy, and even diplomacy. He called for “declaring war to end all wars,” which meant that he wanted to lay the foundations for a world without war, to prevent future catastrophic wars that would sow death and destruction. These intentions served as the basis for Wilson's Fourteen Points, which were developed and proposed to resolve territorial disputes, ensure free trade, and create a peacekeeping organization (which later emerged as the League of Nations). Woodrow Wilson by that time decided that the war had become a threat to all of humanity. In his speech on the declaration of war, he stated that if the United States did not get involved in the war, the entire Western civilization could be destroyed.

Economic and social policy at the beginning of the war

To suppress defeatist sentiment at home, Wilson passed the Espionage Act (1917) and the Rebellion Act (1918) through Congress to suppress anti-British, anti-war, or pro-German sentiments. He supported the socialists, who, in turn, supported participation in the war. Although he himself had no sympathy for radical organizations, they saw great benefits in the rise in salaries under the Wilson administration. However, there was no price regulation and retail prices rose sharply. When the income tax was increased, knowledge workers were hardest hit. War bonds issued by the Government were very successful.

Wilson created a Public Information Committee headed by George Creel, which disseminated patriotic anti-German messages and censored in various forms, popularly known as the Creel Commission (basket committee).

Wilson's fourteen points

In his speech to Congress on January 8, 1918, Woodrow Wilson formulated his Theses on the Purpose of the War, known as the "Fourteen Points."

Wilson's fourteen points (summary):

I. Exclusion of secret agreements, openness of international diplomacy.
II. Freedom of navigation outside territorial waters
III. Freedom of trade, removal of economic barriers
IV. Disarmament, reducing the armament of countries to the minimum level necessary to ensure national security.
V. Free and impartial consideration of all colonial issues, taking into account both the colonial claims of the owners of the colonies and the interests of the population of the colonies.
Vi. Liberation of Russian territories, solution of its issues based on its independence and freedom to choose the form of government.
Vii. Liberation of the territory of Belgium, recognition of its sovereignty.
VIII. Liberation of French territories, restoration of justice for Alsace-Lorraine, occupied in 1871.
IX. Establishing the borders of Italy on a national basis.
X. Free development of the peoples of Austria-Hungary.
XI. Liberation of the territories of Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, providing Serbia with a reliable outlet to the Adriatic Sea, guarantees of the independence of the Balkan states.
XII. The independence of the Turkish parts of the Ottoman Empire (modern Turkey), simultaneously with the sovereignty and autonomous development of the peoples under Turkish rule, the openness of the Dardanelles to free passage of ships.
XIII. Creation of an independent Polish state, uniting all Polish territories and with access to the sea.
XIV. Creation of a general international unification of nations in order to guarantee the integrity and independence of both large and small states.

Wilson's speech caused a mixed reaction both in the United States itself and among its allies. France wanted reparations from Germany, since French industry and agriculture were destroyed by the war, and Great Britain, as the most powerful naval power, did not want freedom of navigation. Wilson made compromises with Clemenceau, Lloyd George and other European leaders during the Paris peace talks, trying to get the fourteenth point to be fulfilled, and the League of Nations was created. In the end, the League of Nations agreement was ruined by Congress, and in Europe, only 4 of the 14 theses were put into practice.

Other military and diplomatic actions

From 1914 to 1918, the United States repeatedly intervened in the affairs of Latin American countries, especially Mexico, Haiti, Cuba, Panama. The United States brought troops into Nicaragua and used them to support one of the Nicaraguan presidential candidates, then forced them to conclude the Brian-Chamorro agreement. American troops in Haiti forced the local parliament to select a candidate supported by Wilson and occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934.

After the October Revolution took place in Russia and it withdrew from the war, the Allies sent troops to prevent the Bolsheviks or Germans from appropriating weapons, ammunition and other supplies that the Allies were carrying out to help the Provisional Government. Wilson sent expeditions to the Trans-Siberian Railway, to the key port cities of Arkhangelsk and Vladivostok, in order to intercept supplies for the Provisional Government. Their task was not to fight the Bolsheviks, but there were several clashes with them. Wilson withdrew the main force from April 1, 1920, although individual formations remained until 1922. At the end of World War I, Wilson, along with Lansing and Colby, laid the foundations for the Cold War and containment.

Versailles Treaty of 1919

American diplomat Robert Murphy, who worked in Munich in the first half of the 1920s, wrote in his memoirs: “From everything I saw, I had great doubts about the correctness of Woodrow Wilson’s approach, who was trying to resolve the issue of self-determination by force. His radical ideas and superficial knowledge of the practical aspects of European politics led to an even greater European disintegration. "

After the end of the First World War, Wilson participated in negotiations at which the issues of statehood of oppressed nations and the establishment of an equal peace were resolved. On January 8, 1918, Wilson delivered a speech in Congress in which he voiced his theses of peace, as well as the idea of the League of Nations to help preserve the territorial integrity and political independence of large and small nations. He saw in his 14 theses the way to end the war and achieve an equal peace for all nations.

Back in 1918, in a conversation with S. Exxon, Wilson stated that

The world will change radically, and I am convinced that governments will have to implement much that now falls to the lot of individuals and corporations.

Wilson spent six months in Paris attending the Paris Peace Conference and becoming the first US president to visit Europe in office. He constantly worked to promote his plans, achieved the inclusion of the provisions of the League of Nations in the Versailles agreement.

Wilson received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919 for his efforts to maintain peace (a total of this prize was awarded to four US presidents). However, Wilson was unable to get the Senate to ratify the League of Nations agreement, and the United States did not join. Republicans, led by Henry Lodge, held a majority in the Senate after the 1918 elections, but Wilson refused to admit Republicans to negotiations in Paris and rejected their proposed amendments. The main disagreement was whether the League of Nations would limit the right of Congress to declare war. Historians have recognized the failed attempt to join the League of Nations as the worst failure of the Wilson administration.

The end of the war

Wilson paid insufficient attention to the problems of demobilization after the war, the process was poorly managed and chaotic. Four million soldiers were sent home with little money. Soon there were problems in agriculture, a lot of farmers went bankrupt. In 1919, riots took place in Chicago and other cities.

After a series of attacks by radical anarchist groups in New York and other cities, Wilson sent Attorney General Mitchell Palmer to end the violence. It was decided to arrest the internal propagandists and expel the external ones.

In recent years, Wilson has severed ties with many of his political allies. He wanted to run for a third term, but the Democratic Party did not support him.

First Lady and Presidential Counselors. The president’s inner circle, led by his wife, completely isolated Vice President Thomas Marshall from the course of presidential correspondence, signing papers and other things. Marshall himself did not dare to take on the responsibility of assuming the powers of acting president, although some political forces urged him to do so.

Wilson was almost completely incapacitated until the end of his presidential term, but this fact was hidden from the public until his death on February 3, 1924. [ ]

After resignation

In 1921, Woodrow Wilson and his wife left the White House and settled in Washington's Embassy Row. In recent years, Wilson grieved at the setbacks in the creation of the League of Nations, believed that he had deceived the American people and in vain dragged the country into the First World War. Woodrow Wilson died on February 3, 1924, and was buried in Washington Cathedral.

Hobbies

Woodrow Wilson was a passionate car enthusiast and made daily car trips even as president. The president's passion also influenced the financing of the construction of public roads. Woodrow Wilson was a baseball fan, during his student years he played for the student team, and in 1916 c). At the Versailles Peace Conference, which ended World War I in 1919, Wilson spoke out for the independence of Czechoslovakia. This is the second monument, the first one was destroyed during the Second World War.

Wilson W. League of Nations speech in Pueblo

Long before father and son Bushes, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama The 28th President of the United States of America undertook to settle the world military conflict and establish new harmonious relations between peoples. His efforts ended with the Nobel Peace Prize and stroke.

Speaker in poor health

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born on December 28, 1856 in Staunton, Virginia, to the family Presbyterian Pastor Joseph Ragles Wilson.

Since childhood, the future politician was distinguished by poor health, so he received his primary education at home. In 1873 he entered Davidson College in North Carolina, then Princeton University in 1879. The oratorical talent inherited from his father and grandfather, Woodrow began to show in his student years, when he became interested in political history and philosophy.

Having started his career as a lawyer, the young man quickly became disillusioned with it, and decided to try his hand at the academic field with a bias towards politics.

After receiving his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University, Wilson went to teach history at Bryn Mawr Women's College, then moved to Wesleyan University (Connecticut), but did not stay there either. In 1890, Princeton University invited Wilson to the law department.

After a series of small essays, in 1899 he published the large political work "The State" - a comparative analysis of government power.

Woodrow Wilson circa 1880. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Compromise President

In 1902, Wilson took over as rector of Princeton University, trying in this position to implement a series of educational reforms. The confrontation between the rector and the professors dragged on for eight years and ended in the defeat of Wilson, who resigned. The protracted and noisy conflict, however, benefited the politician Wilson, since he was talked about as a possible candidate for the presidency from the Democratic Party.

An intermediate step on the way to the presidency for Wilson was the post of Governor of New Jersey, which he received in the 1910 elections. An active position and a number of social laws initiated by the governor (in particular, insurance of workers against accidents) made Wilson a famous politician on a federal scale.

In the 1912 presidential election, Wilson became the Democratic nominee as an agreeable compromise figure. Wilson was also helped by the fact that the traditional Republican electorate was split in two by the struggle between William Taft and the former head of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, who, after his resignation, broke off relations with Taft and the Republican Party and created the Progressive Party.

As a result, Wilson took full advantage of this situation, winning with 41.8% of the vote, and 435 out of 531 electoral votes.

"If the world wants peace, it must follow America's moral precepts."

The main test for the United States in foreign policy during the reign of President Wilson was the First World War.

Wilson, who advocated the expansion of US influence on world politics, initially proceeded from the need to avoid the country's involvement in armed conflicts in Europe. He adhered to the framework of the so-called "dollar diplomacy" and was convinced that "if the world really wants peace, it must follow the moral precepts of America."

Between 1914 and 1917, Wilson was an ardent supporter of U.S. neutrality in World War I, believing that America's special position would give her the right to offer mediation.

However, Wilson's attempts to offer mediation services to the conflicting parties did not find their understanding.

At the same time, already in 1915, Wilson did not rule out the possibility of US participation in the war, after the passenger steamer Lusitania was destroyed as part of the "unlimited submarine war" unleashed by Germany, as a result of which about 1000 people died, including 124 Americans.

The US demands for an end to unrestricted submarine warfare, put forward by Wilson, were fulfilled by the German side, which somewhat delayed American military intervention.

The slogan of Woodrow Wilson's presidential campaign in 1916 was "He saved us from war." Wilson came out with a fairly peaceful program, but put pressure on Germany in order to end unrestricted submarine warfare. His opponent, Republican Charles Evans Hughes, advocated a more active preparation of the United States for war. As a result, Wilson managed to be re-elected with a minimal advantage. In the electoral vote, 277 votes were cast for Wilson, 254 for Hughes.

President Wilson brings to Congress the issue of declaring war on Germany. Meeting on February 3, 1917. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

"Fourteen Points"

The resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany in early 1917 was the reason for the entry of the United States into the war.

Wilson's concept was that the United States should act on its own as an "associated" (not allied) country. It is precisely with this that the directive to the commander of the American army in Europe, John Pershing, is connected, instructing his troops to act in conjunction with the allies, but maintaining a separate position.

According to Wilson, the United States entered World War I "to end all wars." According to the politician, the United States could help Europe lay the foundations for further peaceful coexistence.

In his speech to Congress on January 8, 1918, Woodrow Wilson formulated his Theses on the Purpose of the War, known as the Fourteen Points:

I. Exclusion of secret agreements, openness of international diplomacy.

II. Freedom of navigation outside territorial waters

III. Freedom of trade, removal of economic barriers

IV. Disarmament, reducing the armament of countries to the minimum level necessary to ensure national security.

V. Free and impartial consideration of all colonial issues, taking into account both the colonial claims of the owners of the colonies and the interests of the population of the colonies.

Vi. Liberation of Russian territories, solution of its issues based on its independence and freedom to choose the form of government.

Vii. Liberation of the territory of Belgium, recognition of its sovereignty.

VIII. Liberation of French territories, restoration of justice for Alsace-Lorraine, occupied in 1871.

IX. Establishing the borders of Italy on a national basis.

X. Free development of the peoples of Austria-Hungary.

XI. Liberation of the territories of Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, providing Serbia with a reliable outlet to the Adriatic Sea, guarantees of the independence of the Balkan states.

XII. The independence of the Turkish parts of the Ottoman Empire (modern Turkey), simultaneously with the sovereignty and autonomous development of the peoples under Turkish rule, the openness of the Dardanelles to free passage of ships.

XIII. Creation of an independent Polish state, uniting all Polish territories and with access to the sea.

XIV. Creation of a general international unification of nations in order to guarantee the integrity and independence of both large and small states.

If we move away from the issues of settling the directly armed conflict in Europe, then Wilson saw his main task as the creation of the World Association of States, in which the United States would play the leading role.

Signatories to the Treaty of Versailles. J. Clemenceau, W. Wilson, D. Lloyd George. Paris, 1919. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

"Burnt out" at work

Since the United States made an important financial and military contribution to the victory of the Entente bloc in World War I, the European powers could not just dismiss Wilson's ideas, although many did not share them.

Woodrow Wilson, who spent six months in Paris during the 1919 Peace Conference, became the first serving American president to visit Europe. He constantly worked to advance his plans, and achieved the inclusion of a League of Nations clause in the Versailles Agreement.

The Treaty of Versailles signed on June 28, 1919, according to Wilson, corresponded to the spirit of the Fourteen Points, although its approval in this form ran into desperate resistance from Europeans. The negotiation process put Wilson on the brink of nervous exhaustion. Nevertheless, he was able, at minimal cost, to bring the United States as a major economic power to the forefront of world politics.

In 1919, Woodrow Wilson won the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to the Versailles Peace Treaty. And in the same year he suffered his most crushing defeat - having managed to achieve the creation of the League of Nations in the international arena, Wilson was unable to achieve the ratification of the agreement on the League of Nations by the Senate, and the United States did not join this international organization. Wilson's Fourteen Points program was only partially implemented in Europe.

For Wilson, the hardest workload during the negotiations and the failure of the ratification of the agreement on the League of Nations, turned into a stroke in October 1919, after which he practically lost his legal capacity, although he remained in office until the end of his term.

In 1921, the ailing Wilson and his wife settled in the Embassy Quarter in Washington, where he spent the last years of his life. Woodrow Wilson died on February 3, 1924, and was buried in Washington Cathedral.

Banknote of 100 thousand dollars with a portrait of Wilson. Photo:

Birth: December 28th ( 1856-12-28 )
Staunton, Virginia Death: February 3rd ( 1924-02-03 ) (67 years old)
Washington DC Father: Joseph Wilson Mother: Janet Woodrow Spouse: Ellen Aksson Wilson (1st wife)
Edith Hals Wilson (2nd wife) The consignment: Democratic Party of the United States Awards:

Thomas Woudreau Wilson(eng. Thomas Woodrow Wilson, usually without the first name - Woodrow Wilson; December 28th ( 18561228 ) , Stroughton, Virginia - February 3, Washington, DC) - 28th President of the United States (-). He is also known as a historian and political scientist. Laureate of the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to him for his peacekeeping efforts.

Origin

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, Virginia, to Joseph Wilson, D.Sc. (-) and Janet Woodrow (-). His family is of Scottish and Irish descent, his grandparents emigrated from Strabane, Northern Ireland, while his mother was born in Carlisle to a Scottish family. Wilson's father was from Steubenville, Ohio, where his grandfather was the publisher of an abolitionist newspaper. His parents moved south in 1851 and joined the Confederacy. His father defended slavery, ran a Sunday school for slaves, and served as a priest in the Confederate army. Wilson's father was one of the founders of the Southern Presbyterian Church Society after it split from the Northern in 1861.

Childhood, adolescence

Thomas Woodrow Wilson did not learn to read until about 12 years old, had learning difficulties. He mastered shorthand and made significant efforts to compensate for the learning gap. He studied at his father's home, then - in a small school in Augusta. In 1873 he entered Davidson College in North Carolina, then entered Princeton University in 1879. Starting from the second year of study, he was actively interested in political philosophy and history. He was an active participant in the informal discussion club, organized an independent Liberal Discussion Society. In 1879, Wilson attended law school at the University of Virginia, but he did not receive higher education there. Due to poor health, he went home to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he continued his independent studies.

Legal practice

In January 1882, Wilson decided to begin his legal practice in Atlanta. One of Wilson's fellow students at the University of Virginia invited Wilson to join his law firm as a partner. Wilson joined the partnership in May 1882 and began his legal practice. There was fierce competition in the city with 143 other lawyers, Wilson rarely managed cases and quickly became disillusioned with legal work. Wilson studied legislation in order to enter politics, but realized that he could continue his scientific research and at the same time practice law in order to gain experience. In April 1883, Wilson applied to Johns Hopkins University to study for a Ph.D. and history of political science, and in July 1883 left law practice to pursue an academic career.

Governor of New Jersey

In November 1910, he was elected governor of the state of New Jersey. As governor, he did not follow the party line and decided for himself what to do.

Wilson held a primary in New Jersey for the inner-party election of candidates and a number of social laws (for example, workers' accident insurance). Because of all this, he became known outside of one region.

1912 presidential election

Woodrow Wilson ran for the Democratic presidency as Governor of New Jersey. His candidacy was nominated by the Democratic Party as a compromise in Baltimore at a meeting June 25 - July 2, after a long internal party crisis.

In the election, Wilson's main rivals were the then 27th President of the United States, William Taft of the Republican Party, and the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, who, after resigning, broke off relations with Taft and the Republican Party and created the Progressive Party. Roosevelt and Taft vied for the Republican votes, causing division and confusion in the camp of their supporters, which greatly facilitated the task of Democrat Wilson. According to American political scientists, if Roosevelt did not participate in the elections, Wilson would hardly have won against Taft. In addition, US Vice President James Sherman died on October 30, 1912, leaving Taft without a vice presidential candidate.

According to the election results, Woodrow Wilson received 41.8% of the vote, Theodore Roosevelt - 27.4%, William Taft - 23.2%. Woodrow Wilson won most of the states and subsequently received 435 of 531 electoral votes. Thomas Marshall was elected Vice President of the United States.

Woodrow Wilson became the first Southerner president since Zachary Taylor, who was elected in 1848. He was the only US president to hold a doctorate and one of two presidents, along with Theodore Roosevelt, who was also president of the American Historical Association.

First presidential term (1913-1917)

During his first presidential term, Woodrow Wilson, within the framework of the New Freedom policy, carried out economic reforms - the creation of a federal reserve system, banking reform, antimonopoly reform, in foreign policy he held a neutral position, trying to keep the country from entering the First World War.

Foreign policy

During 1914-1917, Woodrow Wilson kept the country from entering the First World War. In 1916, he offered his services as a mediator, but the warring parties did not take his proposals seriously. Republicans, led by Theodore Roosevelt, criticized Wilson for his peaceful policies and unwillingness to create a strong army. At the same time, Wilson won the sympathy of pacifist Americans, arguing that the arms race would lead to the United States being drawn into the war.

Wilson actively opposed Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare. As part of an unrestricted submarine war, the German naval forces destroyed ships entering the area adjacent to Great Britain. On May 7, 1915, a German submarine sank the passenger liner Lusitania, killing more than 1,000 people, including 124 Americans, which provoked outrage in the United States. In 1916, he issued an ultimatum against Germany to end unrestricted submarine warfare, and also dismissed his pacifist secretary of state, Brian. Germany agreed to Wilson's demands, after which he demanded that Great Britain limit the naval blockade of Germany, which led to the complication of Anglo-American relations.

1916 presidential election

In 1916, Wilson was re-nominated as a presidential candidate. Wilson's main slogan was "He saved us from war." Wilson's opponent and Republican candidate Charles Evans Hughes advocated a greater emphasis on mobilization and preparation for war, and Wilson's supporters accused him of dragging the country into the war. Wilson came out with a fairly peaceful program, but put pressure on Germany in order to end unrestricted submarine warfare. In the election campaign, Wilson focused on his achievements, refraining from direct criticism of Hughes.

Wilson won the election with difficulty, counting the votes lasted for several days and caused controversy. So, in California, Wilson won by a small margin of 3,773 votes, in New Hampshire by a margin of 54 votes, and lost to Hughes in Minnesota by a difference of 393 votes. In the electoral vote, 277 votes were cast for Wilson, 254 for Hughes. It is believed that Wilson won the 1916 election mainly at the expense of voters who supported Theodore Roosevelt and Eugene Debs in 1912.

Second presidential term (1917-1921)

The decision on the participation of the United States in the war

When Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in early 1917, Wilson made the decision for the United States to enter World War I. He did not sign allied agreements with Great Britain or France, preferring to act independently as an "associated" (rather than allied) country. He formed a large army through conscription and appointed General John Pershing as commander, leaving him considerable margin of appreciation in matters of tactics, strategy, and even diplomacy. He called for “declaring war to end all wars,” which meant that he wanted to lay the foundations for a world without war, to prevent future catastrophic wars that would sow death and destruction. These intentions served as the basis for Wilson's Fourteen Points, which were developed and proposed to resolve territorial disputes, ensure free trade, and create a peacekeeping organization (which later emerged as the League of Nations). Woodrow Wilson by that time decided that the war became a threat to all mankind. In his speech on the declaration of war, he stated that if the United States did not get involved in the war, the entire Western civilization could be destroyed.

Economic and social policy at the beginning of the war

To suppress defeatist sentiment at home, Wilson passed the Espionage Act (1917) and the Rebellion Act (1918) through Congress to suppress anti-British, anti-war, or pro-German sentiment. He supported the socialists, who, in turn, supported participation in the war. Although he himself had no sympathy for radical organizations, they saw great benefits in the rise in salaries under the Wilson administration. However, there was no price regulation and retail prices rose sharply. When the income tax was increased, knowledge workers were hardest hit. War bonds issued by the Government were very successful.