President Wilson
(1913-1921)
Brief biography
Woodrow Wilson was governor of New Jersey from 1910 to 1913, promoting progressive ideas while in office. President Woodrow Wilson was nominated as a presidential candidate of the Democratic party in 1912 and became president on March 1st, 1913 thanks to a large majority of electoral votes. He passed three major bills while in office from 1913 to 1916 and won re-election thanks to these bills and his slogan, "He kept us out of war."
Political Philosophy
President Wilson became president with Democratic ideas of protecting the public from trusts and unfair business practices. He believed that it wasn't necessarily the United States's responsibility to spread its ideas of liberty, democracy, and more, but rather to protect democracy, liberty, etc. around the world.
Moral Diplomacy
President Wilson resented the idea of Dollar Diplomacy and came up with his own proposition that we promote and practice Moral Diplomacy. Moral Diplomacy is the idea to promote democratic rule and avoid imperialism. Moral Diplomacy plays a big part in why we are so involved with other countries today.
"Sometimes people call me an idealist. Well, that is the way I know I am an American. America is the only idealistic nation in the world."
Ties to imperialism
- Bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1916 for $25 million.
- Intervened in the revolution in Haiti in 1915 to obtain control over Haiti's foreign policy
Progressive pieces of legislation
While in office from 1912 to 1916 President Wilson passed some progressive pieces of legislation. The first was a lower tariff tied with a graduated federal income tax. Then in 1914, he passed legislation to establish a Federal Trade Commission that was to prohibit unfair business practices. He later passed legislation to prohibit child labor as well as a piece of legislation limiting railroad workers to eight hours of work per day. He also passed the Clayton Antitrust Act in 1914 which revised the Sherman Antitrust Act. President Wilson also supported women's suffrage and the 19 Amendment.
President Wilson's effect on modern America
President Wilson oversaw that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was created in 1914 when he signed the Federal Trade Commission Act into law. The FTC is still around today, protecting consumers and promoting competition. Wilson also signed off on the Clayton Antitrust Act, an amendment of sorts to the Sherman Antitrust Act.