Woodrow Wilson was the 28th president of the United States, serving from March 4, 1913 to March 4, 1921. A Democrat and Progressive reformer, he led major domestic changes and guided the nation through World War I while advocating the League of Nations.
Wilson's presidency brought significant progressive reforms: he helped create the Federal Reserve System, strengthened antitrust enforcement, established the Federal Trade Commission, lowered tariffs and introduced a federal income tax. His administration also enacted labor protections and regulatory measures that reshaped the national economy.
Internationally, Wilson led the United States into World War I, articulated the Fourteen Points and pressed for a League of Nations to secure a new world order, but the Senate refused to ratify U.S. membership. His record is contested: he expanded federal authority and wartime censorship and instituted segregationist policies in the federal government, outcomes that have substantially affected historical assessments of his presidency.
Established the Federal Reserve System (1913) and modernized banking; Enacted antitrust and regulatory reforms including the Clayton Antitrust Act and Federal Trade Commission (1914); Lowered tariffs and introduced a federal income tax (Underwood Tariff, 1913); Led the U.S. through World War I and proposed the Fourteen Points; Championed the League of Nations but failed to secure Senate ratification; Implemented segregationist policies in federal offices and oversaw wartime suppression of dissent
Key highlights and dated events associated with this presidency.
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The British passenger liner RMS Arabic was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the Irish coast and sank, with American passengers among the casualties.
The Wilson administration formally recognized Philippe Sudré Dartiguenave as president of Haiti after his election by a U.S.-supervised assembly.
On August 12, 1915, Haiti's National Assembly elected Philippe Sudré Dartiguenave president following the July assassination and U.S. landing of Marines in Port-au-Prince.
On July 28, 1915, U.S. Marines landed at Port-au-Prince at the direction of the Wilson administration and established control, initiating a U.S. military occupation of Haiti.
On July 27, 1915, Haitian President Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was captured and lynched by an angry Port-au-Prince mob after ordering the execution of political prisoners.
Following Bryan's resignation, President Wilson elevated Counselor Robert Lansing to serve as Acting Secretary of State.
President Wilson appointed Robert Lansing as Acting Secretary of State to replace William J. Bryan following Bryan's resignation over submarine-warfare policy.
William Jennings Bryan resigned as Secretary of State on June 9, 1915, citing disagreement with the Wilson administration's handling of protests to German submarine warfare.
William Jennings Bryan resigned as Secretary of State in protest of the administration's tougher stance toward German submarine attacks following the Lusitania sinking.
William Jennings Bryan resigned as Secretary of State, disagreeing with President Wilson's increasingly stern diplomatic response to German submarine attacks after the Lusitania sinking.
President Wilson signed the Seamen's Act, a law authored by Senator Robert La Follette that imposed safety, wages, and working-condition standards for seamen on U.S.-flagged merchant vessels.
President Wilson dispatched a strongly worded diplomatic note to the German government demanding an explanation, apology, and assurances that passenger ships would not be attacked.