Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson served two terms as president, from 1913 to 1921 — the years of World War I. He was a Democratic president from New Jersey. Before that he had been a professor and university president at Princeton, then governor of New Jersey. People called him the Schoolmaster. He is the only U.S. president so far with a Ph.D., in history and political science.

At home he helped create the Federal Reserve, still the nation's central bank. He signed the Clayton Antitrust Act and created the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to keep giant companies from crushing competition. The war began in Europe in 1914. Wilson tried to stay out, then asked Congress for war in 1917. He said the world must be made “safe for democracy.” U.S. troops in 1918 helped break the stalemate and help win the war. Germany sought an armistice in November 1918.

His peace plan is remembered as the Fourteen Points, including a league of nations to keep the peace. He won a war but failed at home to get the Senate to accept the League of Nations. Treaties need Senate approval. Wilson would not compromise with Henry Cabot Lodge, and the Senate said no. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, guaranteed women the vote. The 18th Amendment of this era banned the sale of alcoholic drinks (Prohibition).