Woodrow Wilson
28th President of the United States
under the Constitution of 1787
under the Constitution of 1787
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born on December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Virginia. He was the first son and third child of Joseph Ruggles Wilson, a respected Presbyterian minister, and Jessie Janet Woodrow. In 1859, the family moved to Augusta, Georgia, where Wilson’s father assumed the role of pastor. Wilson’s early years were heavily influenced by the Civil War and his father’s support for the Confederate cause. Wilson witnessed the harsh realities of General William T. Sherman’s campaigns in Georgia and South Carolina, experiences that would shape his loyalty to the South and influence his political philosophy.
Wilson received his early education at home and in private schools in Augusta and Columbia, South Carolina, where his father accepted a professorship. His family moved once more in 1873 to Wilmington, North Carolina, where Wilson briefly attended Davidson College, a Presbyterian institution where his father was a trustee. The following year, he transferred to the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). There, he thrived as a student, showing an early interest in politics, public speaking, and rhetoric. Wilson even had visiting cards printed that read “Thomas Woodrow Wilson, senator from Virginia,” a testament to his early ambition for national leadership. In 1879, he published his first essay, "Cabinet Government in the United States," in The International Review, advocating for a stronger legislative branch over a powerful executive.
Wilson pursued law at the University of Virginia, though he quickly grew frustrated with its technicalities, finding public speaking and political philosophy more engaging. After briefly practicing law in Atlanta, Georgia, he realized his passion lay in academia. He entered Johns Hopkins University in 1883, where he studied under Professor Herbert Baxter Adams, a leading historian. His dissertation, Congressional Government, critiqued the American system and proposed reforms, gaining acclaim and earning Wilson his Ph.D. in 1886.
In 1885, Wilson married Ellen Louise Axson, a Georgian with a deep appreciation for art and literature, who supported his career while raising their three daughters: Margaret, Jessie, and Eleanor. Wilson’s early teaching career took him to Bryn Mawr College, Wesleyan University, and ultimately back to Princeton, where he became a distinguished professor. His ambitious reforms and writings, including The State (1889) and A History of the American People (1902), brought him national recognition. In 1902, he was unanimously elected president of Princeton University, where he implemented academic reforms that influenced American higher education.
In 1910, Wilson was elected Governor of New Jersey, backed by Democratic leaders who initially saw him as a compliant reformer. Instead, Wilson surprised them by enacting sweeping reforms, fighting corruption, and earning a reputation as a progressive. His success as governor positioned him as a strong contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1912. Running on his “New Freedom” platform, Wilson promised economic reforms and greater social justice. Benefiting from a divided Republican vote, he won the election with 41.85% of the popular vote and a substantial majority of the electoral college.
During his presidency, Wilson’s reforms included the Federal Reserve Act, a graduated income tax, tariff reduction, and child labor laws. However, he was hesitant on women’s suffrage and permitted segregation within federal offices, a policy influenced by his Southern roots and pressure from Southern allies. Wilson’s foreign policy was marked by neutrality, but increasing aggression from Germany ultimately led him to declare war in 1917, framing the conflict as a fight to “make the world safe for democracy.”
In 1914, Wilson faced a profound personal loss when his wife Ellen died of Bright’s disease, leaving him devastated. The following year, he met Edith Bolling Galt, a Washington widow who would become his second wife and one of his closest confidantes. Wilson’s leadership during World War I culminated in his vision for the League of Nations, which he hoped would prevent future conflicts. Tragically, he suffered a debilitating stroke in 1919, which left him partially paralyzed and impaired.
Wilson’s legacy as president is a mix of groundbreaking reforms and contentious policies, including his controversial stance on race. He retired quietly, spending his final years with Edith in Washington, D.C., until his death on February 3, 1924. Wilson is remembered as a complex figure—a scholar, reformer, and wartime leader whose vision for peace and domestic reform left a lasting impact on the nation.
Edith Bolling Galt Wilson
Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, Woodrow Wilson’s second wife and one of the most influential First Ladies in American history, was born on October 15, 1872, in Wytheville, Virginia. She was the seventh of 11 children born to Judge William Holcombe Bolling and Sallie White Bolling, descendants of prominent Virginia families with ties to Pocahontas. Edith’s upbringing was steeped in Southern traditions and values, and her family instilled in her a sense of pride, independence, and resilience. Despite a relatively comfortable background, her family faced financial hardships after the Civil War, and Edith’s education was largely informal. Nevertheless, she grew into a self-assured and capable young woman with a strong sense of self.
In 1896, Edith married Norman Galt, a prosperous jeweler from Washington, D.C. The couple led an affluent and active social life in Washington, enjoying the arts, traveling, and cultivating friendships within Washington society. Tragically, Galt passed away suddenly in 1908, leaving Edith a widow with control over his successful jewelry business. Determined and resourceful, she managed the business on her own, an unusual role for women at the time, and built a reputation for her keen business sense.
In 1915, through mutual friends, Edith was introduced to Woodrow Wilson, then grieving the death of his first wife, Ellen. Their connection was immediate and profound; Wilson found solace and companionship in Edith, and she brought warmth and stability to his life. After a brief courtship, they were married on December 18, 1915, a union that sparked rumors due to the short period since Ellen’s passing. Nevertheless, Edith quickly adapted to the role of First Lady, bringing elegance and Southern charm to the White House.
Edith’s influence over Wilson grew rapidly, especially as he relied on her more following his health struggles. She stood by him during World War I, traveling with him and providing both emotional and practical support. However, her most significant role came after Wilson’s devastating stroke in October 1919. With her husband incapacitated, Edith effectively assumed control of his communications and interactions. Described by some as the “first female president,” she limited access to Wilson and managed his affairs with meticulous attention. Edith claimed she only acted as a “steward” of his wishes, but many historians argue she held substantial power during this period, deciding which issues to bring to his attention and even speaking on his behalf.
After Wilson’s presidency ended in 1921, Edith remained fiercely protective of his legacy. The couple retired to a home in Washington, D.C., where she cared for him until his death in 1924. In the years that followed, Edith became a devoted advocate for her husband’s ideals, especially his vision for the League of Nations. In 1939, she published My Memoir, defending her actions during Wilson’s final years and providing a glimpse into their relationship and her role in his administration.
Edith continued her public life, attending the dedication of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in 1961 and the naming of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. She remained active in preserving her husband’s legacy and stayed deeply engaged with issues related to peace and diplomacy. Edith passed away on December 28, 1961—exactly 105 years after her husband’s birth.
Edith Bolling Galt Wilson’s legacy is one of devotion and controversy. Her unprecedented role in Wilson’s administration challenged traditional perceptions of First Ladies and blurred the lines between a supportive spouse and an active political player. While her tenure remains debated by historians, Edith Wilson’s life represents a unique chapter in the history of the American presidency, and her influence on Woodrow Wilson’s legacy endures to this day.
For students and teachers of U.S. history, this video features Stanley and Christopher Klos presenting America's Four United Republics Curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Filmed in December 2015, this video is an informal recording by an audience member capturing a presentation attended by approximately 200 students, professors, and guests. To explore the full curriculum, [download it here].
September 5, 1774 | October 22, 1774 | |
October 22, 1774 | October 26, 1774 | |
May 20, 1775 | May 24, 1775 | |
May 25, 1775 | July 1, 1776 |
July 2, 1776 to February 28, 1781
July 2, 1776 | October 29, 1777 | |
November 1, 1777 | December 9, 1778 | |
December 10, 1778 | September 28, 1779 | |
September 29, 1779 | February 28, 1781 |
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789
March 1, 1781 | July 6, 1781 | |
July 10, 1781 | Declined Office | |
July 10, 1781 | November 4, 1781 | |
November 5, 1781 | November 3, 1782 | |
November 4, 1782 | November 2, 1783 | |
November 3, 1783 | June 3, 1784 | |
November 30, 1784 | November 22, 1785 | |
November 23, 1785 | June 5, 1786 | |
June 6, 1786 | February 1, 1787 | |
February 2, 1787 | January 21, 1788 | |
January 22, 1788 | January 21, 1789 |
United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) Sessions
USCA | Session Dates | USCA Convene Date | President(s) |
First | 03-01-1781 to 11-04-1781* | 03-02-1781 | |
Second | 11-05-1781 to 11-03-1782 | 11-05-1781 | |
Third | 11-04-1782 to 11-02-1783 | 11-04-1782 | |
Fourth | 11-03-1783 to 10-31-1784 | 11-03-1783 | |
Fifth | 11-01-1784 to 11-06-1785 | 11-29-1784 | |
Sixth | 11-07-1785 to 11-05-1786 | 11-23-1785 | |
Seventh | 11-06-1786 to 11-04-1787 | 02-02-1787 | |
Eighth | 11-05-1787 to 11-02-1788 | 01-21-1788 | |
Ninth | 11-03-1788 to 03-03-1789** | None | None |
* The Articles of Confederation was ratified by the mandated 13th State on February 2, 1781, and the dated adopted by the Continental Congress to commence the new United States in Congress Assembled government was March 1, 1781. The USCA convened under the Articles of Confederation Constitution on March 2, 1781.** On September 14, 1788, the Eighth United States in Congress Assembled resolved that March 4th, 1789, would be commencement date of the Constitution of 1787's federal government thus dissolving the USCA on March 3rd, 1789.
Philadelphia | Sept. 5, 1774 to Oct. 24, 1774 | |
Philadelphia | May 10, 1775 to Dec. 12, 1776 | |
Baltimore | Dec. 20, 1776 to Feb. 27, 1777 | |
Philadelphia | March 4, 1777 to Sept. 18, 1777 | |
Lancaster | September 27, 1777 | |
York | Sept. 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778 | |
Philadelphia | July 2, 1778 to June 21, 1783 | |
Princeton | June 30, 1783 to Nov. 4, 1783 | |
Annapolis | Nov. 26, 1783 to Aug. 19, 1784 | |
Trenton | Nov. 1, 1784 to Dec. 24, 1784 | |
New York City | Jan. 11, 1785 to Nov. 13, 1788 | |
New York City | October 6, 1788 to March 3,1789 | |
New York City | March 3,1789 to August 12, 1790 | |
Philadelphia | Dec. 6,1790 to May 14, 1800 | |
Washington DC | November 17,1800 to Present |
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