Woodrow Wilson

Background

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, Virginia, the United States, on December 28, 1856. He was the third child and first son of Joseph Ruggles Wilson and Janet Woodrow. Wilson grew up in a happy and loving family. They moved a lot when he was a toddler, but they always remained in the South. In 1870, when Wilson was 14, his family moved to Columbia, South Carolina, due to his father’s job as a professor.

Wilson was a brilliant student who loved attending school. His father, Joseph Wilson, taught Wilson oratory; the boy soon grew a passion for it. In 1876, Wilson attended Princeton University. Afterward, he enrolled at the University of Virginia to study law. At Johns Hopkins University, he got a Ph.D. in political science and history. After obtaining his Ph.D., Wilson’s dream was to become a professor. He started by teaching at Bryn Mawr and Wesleyan, and in 1890, he got a job as a professor at Princeton. In 1902, Wilson became the president of Princeton University.

During his time as president of Princeton, Wilson became more and more involved in politics. In 1910, he was elected as governor of New Jersey. Wilson then presented his candidature for president of the United States in 1912 and the national elections. He remained president from 1913 to 1921. During his government, Wilson led the United States into World War I. In 1919, Wilson negotiated and signed the Treaty of Versailles. In 1921, Wilson suffered a stroke and in the following years, his health didn’t improve. Wilson eventually died at his home in 1924.