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Woodrow Wilson Timeline


Timeline Description: Woodrow Wilson was America's 28th president. He served two terms, including the years during World War I. One of his earliest memories is meeting General Robert E. Lee.

DateEvent TitleEvent Description
1856Woodrow Wilson's birthWoodrow was born in Virginia to a southern family who fought for the south in the Civil War. His childhood home is now a library.
1866EducationBecause of the turmoil of the Civil War, Woodrow's education was inconsistent. It is also said that he had dyslexia, and he didn't learn to read until he was ten years old.
1879PrincetonWoodrow eventually taught himself a special system to help himself learn more easily. He went to Princeton University where he studied philosophy and history.
1885MarriageWoodrow met and married Ellen Axson while visiting family in Georgia. They had three daughters.
1887Continuing career in educationThough he had started law school, Woodrow soon found himself teaching. He taught at various schools including Cornell University, Bryn Mawr, and more.
1890Princeton FacultyWoodrow joined the Princeton faculty and continued teaching for many years. He also worked with the Evelyn College for Women.
1911Governor of New JerseyWilson ran for Governor and won the vote by a wide margin of almost 50,000 votes. Many believe it was because of the shifting political stand of the country.
1912Presidential ElectionWilson had high expectations when it came to his career, and he decided to run for president. Because he had grown so respected and popular, and because the Republican Party split, he won an easy victory.
1913President!Wilson's first term as president was marked with hardship. World War I began across the Atlantic Ocean, and Wilson's wife, Ellen, died while in the White House.
1916Second Presidential termIn spite of the turmoil marking his first term, Americans rallied around Wilson because he was able to keep them out of the War. The vote was so close that it required a re-count, but Wilson came out the winner.
1917World War IIn spite of the Americans' wish to stay out of the war, President Wilson recognized that not stepping in to fight could result in an end to their way of life. He declared war on April 2, 1917.
1918Women's SuffrageA draft was enacted to build the American military up for the war. With so many men gone, women had to step up and fill the gap, and this led the way for greater women's suffrage and rights.
1919League of NationsThe war was brought to a close and President Wilson traveled to Europe to sign the Treaty of Versailles. The President also proposed the League of Nations, which caused fighting in the US.
1924President Wilson's deathThroughout the end of his presidency, Wilson's health worsened and he had several strokes. He passed away from a stroke three years after leaving office.