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Shane Di Dona Ms. Dillingham Honors English 11 May 11, 2005 Woodrow Wilson: Leadership in Times of Change In 1914 the world was divided along lines of alliance. War was inevitable. With one bullet, the Great War, the war to end all wars, started. Enter into this world Woodrow Wilson, an idealist and pacifist. Woodrow Wilson, influenced by the Civil War and his duties as president during World War I, wrote on the human condition and led the people of the United States with great wisdom. A Woodrow Wilson was born to an educated family and had a long political career. Woodrow Wilson was born on December 28, 1856 (Kleine-Ahlbrandt 2529). He was born in Staunton, Virginia (“Woodrow Wilson” The American Scene 81). Woodrow Wilson was born to Reverend Doctor Joseph Ruggles Wilson and Janet Woodrow (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). Wilson started his long college career in Davidson College in 1874. In 1875, he moved to the College of New Jersey. Wilson graduated in 1879. Also in 1879 he started to study law at the University of Virginia. In 1883 he received a Ph.D. in government and history (Kleine-Ahlbrandt 2529). Wilson’s dissertation was titled Congressional Government (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). Wilson held positions at Bryan Mawr College, Weslean Univrsity, and Princeton University (Kleine-Ahlbrandt 2529). Wilson was elected President of Princeton University on June 9, 1902 unanimously (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). Woodrow Wilson had a short political career. Wilson was president of the American Political Science Association from 1919 to 1911 (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). In 1910 Woodrow Wilson became the Democratic nominee for the Governorship of New Jersey (Kleine-Ahlbrandt 2530). Wilson was the governor of New Jersey form 1911 to 1913 (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). In 1912 Woodrow Wilson was nominated for the presidency of the United Stated by the Democratic Party (Kleine-Ahlbrandt 2530). Wilson’s platform was the “New Freedom” (“Wilson, (Thomas) Woodrow (1856-1924)” 1013). Wilson was elected as the twenty-eighth president. Wilson was the second democrat to serve two terms. Wilson’s vice president was Thomas R. Marshall (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). When Wilson ran again his campaign motto was “He kept us out of war.” (“Woodrow Wilson” The American Scene 81). Wilson was elected president again in 1916 (Kleine-Ahlbrandt 2531). On April 6, 1917 the United States declared war on Germany, plunging the United States into World War I. On January 8, 1918, Wilson gave his “Fourteen Points” speech (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). Woodrow Wilson died not long after entering politics. On September 25, 1919 Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke, and on October 2, 1919, he suffered another stroke, worse than the first (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). Wilson died on February 3, 1924 (Kleine-Ahlbrandt 2529). Wilson died in Washington D.C. (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). B Woodrow Wilson’s life experience and education led to his writing. Wilson grew up during the Civil War, which made him appreciate peace (Kleine-Ahlbrandt 2529). Wilson remembered seeing Jefferson Davis in handcuffs and also looking up into Ulysses Grant’s face. Woodrow Wilson’s education produced one literary work: Congressional Government. Woodrow Wilson’s Ph.D. in government and history led him to write (Kleine-Ahlbrandt 2529). C Woodrow Wilson’s personality affected his writing. Woodrow Wilson was a racist (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). Woodrow Wilson’s distaste for “hyphenated Americans” (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np) influenced Wilson’s writing. This distaste is proven in the following quote: “Any man who carries a hyphen around with him carries a dagger that he is ready to plunge into the vitals of this Republic whenever he gets ready.” (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). D Woodrow Wilson’s writing affected him in a profound way. Wilson’s Fourteen Points were meant to make the world peaceful (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). Writing the “Fourteen Points” fulfilled his desire for peace that started during the Civil War (Kleine-Ahlbrandt 2529). F The times in which Woodrow Wilson wrote affected his writing tremendously. His Fourteen Points were meant to end war. World War I was the event which triggered Wilson’s writing his “Fourteen Points” (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). G The Post-World War I literary period influenced Wilson’s writing. Woodrow Wilson delivered his “Fourteen Points” after World War I. Wilson wrote “Fourteen Points as a result of World War I (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). H The history of the times in which Woodrow Wilson wrote had a tremendous influence on his writing. In fact, his writing was caused by World War I, a very important event in history (“Woodrow Wilson” Wikipedia np). Woodrow Wilson led the United States through war while writing on humans, the human condition, and humanity in general. Woodrow Wilson was influenced by two wars: the Civil War and World War I. During a trying time in human history, Woodrow Wilson provided strong leadership.

Works Cited Isaacs, Dr. Allen, ed. et al. Oxford Dictionary of World History. 1st ed. Oxford University Press, 2000. Kleine-Ahlbrandt, William Laird. “Woodrow Wilson.” Great Lives from History. Gen. ed. Frank N. MaGill. Vol. 5. Pasadena: Salem Press, 1987. 2529-2534. “Wilson, (Thomas) Woodrow (1856-1924).” The American Heritage Encyclopedia of American History. 1998 ed. “Wilson (Thomas) Woodrow.” Encarta. 5 May 2005 <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761557212/Woodrow_Wilson.html#endads>. “Woodrow Wilson.” The American Scene. Vol. 5. Danbury: Grolier Educational, 1999. 81. 9 vols. “Woodrow Wilson.” Wikipedia. 3 May 2005. 4 May 2005 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_Wilson>.