Woodrow Wilson Event Timeline
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Woodrow Wilson (28) Event Timeline

03/04/1913 - 03/04/1921

06/25/1912 - 07/02/1912 On 07/02/1912, the Democratic National Convention in Baltimore nominates New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson for President on the 46th ballot. At the time, the Democrats still required a 2/3 majority for nomination. Indiana Governor Thomas R. Marshall was nominated for the Vice-Presidency. 08/07/1912 Wilson formally accepts the nomination at his summer home in Sea Girt, New Jersey.

11/05/1912

Election Day. Wilson wins 81.9% of the Electoral College and 41.8% of the popular vote. He defeats Republican incumbent William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt running for the Progressive Party.

1913

03/04/1913

Inaugural Address.

04/08/1913

Appears before Congress to speak on tariffs, marking the first time since 1800 that a president had addressed Congress in person.

04/11/1913

Cabinet meeting discusses segregation by race in the Federal bureaucracy. Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels recorded in his diary “The President said he made no promises in particular to Negroes, except to do them justice, and he did not wish to see them have less positions than they now have; but he wished the matter adjusted in a way to make the least friction.” This is widely interpreted as an indication that Wilson would not oppose segregation.

05/02/1913

Extends diplomatic recognition to the fledgling Republic of China. (US diplomatic relations with the Empire of China had begun in 1844.)

05/19/1913

California passes and Governor Hiram Johnson signs the Webb-Hartley Law, known as the Alien Land Law of 1913. This limits land leases for agricultural purposes to a length of three years and bars further land purchases by “aliens ineligible to citizenship.” The principle target group was understood to be Japanese. [The text of this California law may be found in pdf form at this link starting page 264.]

05/31/1913

Seventeenth Amendment enacted, replacing state legislature nomination of U.S. senators with direct popular election.

08/27/1913

Addresses foreign policy with Mexico during the Mexican Revolution and states that the United States will maintain a policy of neutrality until the civil unrest in the nation has run its course.

10/03/1913

Signs the Revenue Act of 1913, which included the Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act. (38 Stat 114) The Act substantially lowered tariff rates and reestablished a federal income tax (Section II).

10/10/1913

By pushing a switch in the White House, causes an explosion blowing up the Gamboa Dike, causing water to flow into the Panama Canal, linking the Atlantic and Pacific.

12/02/1913

First Annual Message. Among other topics: "I urge the prompt enactment of legislation which will provide for primary elections throughout the country at which the voters of the several parties may choose their nominees for the Presidency without the intervention of nominating conventions."

12/23/1913

Signs the Federal Reserve Act, which creates the Federal Reserve System.

1914

04/20/1914

Addresses Joint Session of Congress regarding Tampico incident. Requests authorization from Congress to use force in Mexico following Tampico incident, when U.S. Marines were detained by Mexican officials in the port of Tampico on 04/09/1914.

05/08/1914

Signs “An Act To provide for cooperative agricultural extension work between the agricultural colleges in the several States [“land grant colleges”] receiving the benefits of an Act of Congress approved July second eighteen hundred and sixty-two. . .” (38 Stat 372) Also known as the Smith-Lever Act. The goal was to give instruction and practical demonstrations to farmers throughout the states.

05/09/1914

Proclaims for the first time the official observance of Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May.

06/28/1914

Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated, contributing to the start of World War I.

08/06/1914

Ellen Louise Axson Wilson, the President’s first wife, died on this date of Bright disease. She was the mother of three daughters and an accomplished painter. Her efforts concerning the housing conditions of African Americans in Washington D.C. bore fruit in the form of legislation about “alley dwellings” (signed into law on 09/25/1914; 38 Stat 716) on housing standards in Washington.

08/15/1914

The Panama Canal officially opens after decades of controversy.

08/19/1914

Declares official U.S. neutrality after Germany launches war on Belgium, France, and Great Britain on 08/04/1914.

09/26/1914

Signs legislation establishing the Federal Trade Commission, a new government board empowered to investigate and publicize unsound business practices.

10/14/1914

Signs the Clayton Antitrust Act, which defines unethical business practices and upholds various labor rights.

10/17/1914

Addresses Congress about legislative achievements, discussing the Underwood-Simmons Act, the Federal Reserve Act, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Clayton Antitrust Act.

11/03/1914

In Midterm Elections, the Democrats increase their majority in the Senate (from 51 to 56 seats) and retain their majority in the House (from 291 to 230 seats).

11/12/1914

Receives a delegation of Afro-Americans who challenge him to take action to desegregate the Federal bureaucracy. The New York Times wrote that the President stated that “never since he had been in office had he been addressed in such an insulting fashion.” He said the policy of segregation had been enforced for the comfort and the best interests of both races.

12/08/1914

Second Annual Message.

1915

01/25/1915

Alexander Graham Bell makes first transcontinental phone call.

01/26/1915

Signs bill creating the Rocky Mountain National Park (38 Stat 798). “The Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion . . . grant easements or rights of way for steam, electric, or similar transportation upon or across the par.”

01/28/1915

Vetoes bill requiring literacy tests for immigrants, stating that these tests deny equal opportunity to the uneducated. This veto was sustained on 02/14/1915 in the House.

02/18/1915

First ever showing of a motion picture in the White House was of Birth of a Nation. The President watched with his daughters, his cabinet and their wives. It was later stated that “the President was entirely unaware of the [racist] character of the play before it was presented and has at no time expressed his approbation of it.”

05/13/1915

Issues response to Germany after British passenger liner Lusitania is sunk by German forces on 05/07/1915.

06/09/1915

Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan, an anti-war advocate, resigns in protest over Wilson’s response to the Lusitania, fearing he will draw the nation into war.

07/28/1915

US Marines Land in Haiti following violent political killings. (See the New York Times of July 29, 1915) Between 1911 and 1915 seven presidents of Haiti had been assassinated or overthrown. US policymakers were concerned about German influence and the safety of American assets.

07/21/1915

Dispatches another Lusitania note to Germany, threatening war.

09/16/1915

Treaty is signed between Haiti and the United States; ratified by the Chamber of Deputies on 10/06/1915 and by the Haitian Senate on 11/11/1915. The treaty created a Haitian “constabulary” under the control of US Marines; gave the US control of Haitian finances; and granted the right to intervene when the US determined it to be necessary. Ratified by the U.S. Senate 02/28/1916; ratified by the President 03/20/1916. (39 Stat 1654)

12/07/1915

Third Annual Message.

12/18/1915

President Wilson marries his second wife, Edith Bolling, at her home in Washington D.C.

1916

01/28/1916

Nominates Louis B. Brandeis, the first Jewish justice in U.S. history, to the U.S. Supreme Court.

01/28/1916 - 02/04/1916

Speaking tour of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Indiana to promote military preparedness

03/21/1916

Issues executive order to increase the strength of the U.S. Army.

06/01/1916

Louis B. Brandeis is confirmed to the Supreme Court after a long, tumultuous investigation by the United States Senate and the first public Senate confirmation hearing in United States history.

06/03/1916

Signs the National Defense Act, (39 Stat 166) a sweeping update of law organizing the military. Expands the size of the Army; brings state militias further under federal control; grants the president authority to mobilize the National Guard in the case of emergency; creates the Reserve Officer Training Corps.

06/10/1916

Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes accepts the Republican Nomination for President, the first and only time a sitting Justice has been Presidential nominee.

06/15/1916

Wilson renominated by Democratic National Convention meeting in St. Louis. His formal acceptance comes on 09/02/1916.

06/24/1916

Haitian Treaty negotiated on 09/16/1915 officially proclaimed. (39 Stat 1654)

07/17/1916

Signs the Federal Farm Loan Act, (39 Stat 360) which increases credit to rural family farmers.

07/22/1916

Bomb explodes in San Francisco during a Preparedness Day parade, killing ten and wounding forty.

08/25/1916

Signs An Act to Establish a National Park Service (39 Stat 535) within the Department of the Interior. Will manage the existing 35 national parks.

08/29/1916

Signs Army Appropriations Act of 1916 (39 Stat 649) that created the Council of National Defense “for the coordination of industries and resources for the national security and welfare.” The Council consisted of six Cabinet members.

09/02/1916

Accepts the Democratic nomination for President of the United States

09/03/1916

Signs the Adamson Eight-Hour Act (39 Stat 721) during railroad workers’ strike, establishing an eight-hour workday for interstate railroad workers.

11/07/1916

Election Day. Wilson defeats Republican Charles E. Hughes, winning 52.2% of the Electoral College and 49.2% of the popular vote.

11/07/1916

Jeannette Rankin, Republican of Montana, is the first woman elected to the United States Congress. She later voted against declarations of war in both WWI and WWII.

12/05/1916

Fourth Annual Message.

12/18/1916

Attempts to mediate a settlement of the World War by directing his Secretary of State to dispatch peace notes to European powers.

1917

01/22/1917

Delivers "peace without victory" speech to the Senate, in which he proposes peaceful terms for ending the war.

01/29/1917

Vetoes bill regulating immigration and residence of aliens in the United States. Wilson’s veto is overridden by the House on 02/01/1917, and in the Senate on 02/05/1917. (39 Stat 874)

01/31/1917

German Ambassador to the U.S. presents to Secretary of State Lansing a note declaring German intention to restart unrestricted submarine warfare as of the next day.

02/03/1917

In an Address to a Joint Session of Congress announces that as a result of Imperial Germany’s decision to threaten vessels of neutral countries through submarine warfare, U.S. is severing diplomatic relations with Germany. If U.S. ships are threatened, he will return and ask for authority to use any means necessary in their defense.

02/26/1917

Requests authority from Congress should a war declaration become necessary.

03/05/1917

Second Inaugural Address.

04/02/1917

Addresses a joint session of Congress requesting a declaration of war against Germany.

04/06/1917

Signs declaration of war against Germany.

04/13/1917

Committee on Public Information established to coordinate wartime propaganda and censorship efforts.

04/16/1917

Addresses the American people in a written statement about the war, deeming it the “supreme test of the nation.”

04/24/1917

Signs act authorizing $5 Billion in debt for national security (40 Stat 35) and defense; the instruments come to be called Liberty Bonds.

05/18/1917

Signs the Selective Service Act, implementing a federally mandated draft lottery.

06/15/1917

Signs the Espionage Act to punish interference with the foreign relations, neutrality, and foreign commerce of the United States. Wilson had requested in his speech on 04/02/1917. (40 Stat 217) This was a hugely controversial law.

06/26/1917

American troops begin to disembark in France.

10/13/1917 Notifies his advisor Colonel Edward M. House that he approves a proposed British declaration on Palestine. This declaration is made public on 11/02/1917 and known as the Balfour Declaration. Wilson asks that no publicity be given to his approval. (Lebow, Journal of Modern History, December 1968.)

1918

05/16/1918

Signs the Sedition Act (40 Stat 553), which further limited freedom of expression by forbidding “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language” about the United States government, flag, and armed forces.

05/28/1918

Issues executive order transferring the War Industries Board (see 07/28/1917) to independent agency status to coordinate the purchase of war supplies.

06/16/1918

Socialist leader and sometime Presidential candidate, Eugene Debs gives a speech objecting to the ongoing war. He is arrested and charged under the Espionage Act with inciting disloyalty to the United States. On 09/14/1918 he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

07/26/1918

In an “Address” to the nation released as a written statement, urges Americans rise above the “mob spirit” that is seen in many parts of the country. “There have been many lynchings, and every one of them has been a blow at the heart of ordered law and human justice.”

09/30/1918

Defends women's suffrage in an Address to a Joint session of Congress.

10/01/1918

About this time, the "Spanish flu” pandemic peaks in the United States.

11/05/1918

In midterm elections, the Republican party’s 1 seat majority in the House was increased by 25; and the Republicans took the majority in the Senate gaining 5 seats.

11/11/1918

Addresses Congress regarding Allied and German armistice. “The war thus comes to an end; for, having accepted these terms of armistice, it will be impossible for the German command to renew it.”

11/21/1918

Signs the Wartime Prohibition Act, part of an Agricultural Appropriations Bill (40 Stat 1045) temporarily banning the manufacture of alcohol for domestic sale.

12/02/1918

Sixth Annual Message.

12/14/1918 - 2/24/1919

Tours Europe to take part in World War I peace negotiations and promote plan for a League of Nations. Begins with three speeches in France, then gives eight speeches in England, 19 speeches in Italy and seven more speeches in Paris in the course of the negotiations.

1919

01/07/1919

Proclamation announcing the death of Theodore Roosevelt.

01/16/1919

Final state ratifies the 18th Amendment, launching prohibition.

01/18/1919

Delivers remarks at the opening of the Paris Peace Conference.

02/14/1919

Presents League of Nations draft to the Paris Peace Conference in order to promote international cooperation and secure peace and security.

02/15/1919

Sails for home.

02/24/1919

Arrives in Boston, gives Address relating progress in peace negotiations. ". . .I have come back to report progress, and I do not believe that the progress is going to stop short of the goal."

03/03/1919

The Supreme Court rules unanimously in Schenck v. United States that the Espionage Act was constitutional and did not violate the First Amendment. In this case, Justice Holmes articulates the “clear and present danger” test for speech that can be constitutionally prohibited.

03/04/1919

Address in New York responding to criticisms of the proposed League of Nations.

03/05/1919

Departs New York to returns to Europe aboard the naval transport ship George Washington.

03/10/1919

The Supreme Court rules unanimously in Debs v. United States, that Deb’s public advocacy against military recruitment and the draft was a violation of the Espionage Act. Given the ruling in Schenck, Deb’s conviction was valid and he subsequently was imprisoned.

03/15/1919 - 07/08/1919

In Paris for peace treaty negotiations. Returns to the U.S. on 07/08/1919.

06/02/1919

An anarchist explodes a bomb in front of the home of Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer in Washington D.C. There were a number of attacks on officials across the country that day.

06/04/1919

Congress approves the 19th Amendment. (41 Stat 362)

07/10/1919

In an Address to the Senate, submits the Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations for ratification.

07/19/1919 – 07/24/1919

Washington D.C. race riot gets underway when off-duty white military personnel enter South-East Washington to avenge an alleged assault on a white woman. The President ordered the deployment of federal troops to restore order. At least 15 died in the conflict.

07/27/1919 – 08/04/1919

Chicago race riot follows drowning of a black teenager hit in the head by a rock thrown by a white man. Eventually 38 people died and over 500 injured with many structures burned. Order was restored when Illinois Govern Lowden ordered the intervention of the national guard on the evening of 07/30/1919.

07/31/1919

Senate Committee on Foreign Relations begins hearings on the Versailles Treaty.

08/16/1919

Vetoes a Bill for the repeal of the daylight-savings law which is then passed over his veto on 08/19/1919 (41 Stat 280).

08/19/1919

The President makes Remarks to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a meeting at the White House.

09/03/1919 - 10/03/1919

Tours nationally to build support for the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations.

09/11/1919

In a relatively unusual public reference to race relations, in a speech in Helena, MT, says: “I hope you will not think it inappropriate if I stop here to express my shame as an American citizen at the race riots that have occurred in some places in this country where men have forgotten humanity and justice and ordered society and have run amuck. That constitutes a man not only the enemy of society but his own enemy and the enemy of justice.”

09/30/1919 – 10/02/1919

The Elaine (Arkansas) race massacre. Fueled by fears of a black “insurrection,” armed white mobs, including soldiers from a local military base, assaulted African-Americans, killing more than 100.

10/02/1919

Suffers a serious stroke, rendering him incapacitated. His wife Edith Wilson manages the office of the president for the remainder of Wilson’s tenure.

10/27/1919

Vetoes the Volstead Act (41 Stat 305) prohibiting intoxicating beverages, objecting to the part dealing with wartime prohibition (not the enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment). On 10/28/2019 Congress passes the Volstead Act over Wilson’s veto (41 Stat 322).

11/07/1919

The first round of “Palmer Raids” arrest more than 200 immigrants suspected of revolutionary activity, and hold them for deportation.

11/19/1919

Senate fails to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, reflecting feelings of isolationism.

12/02/1919

Seventh Annual Message.

1920

01/02/1920

Further major round of “Palmer Raids” begin and continue for several weeks. Thousands are arrested and hundreds eventually deported, many treated brutally. This event is important in motivating the founding of the American Civil Liberties Union.

03/01/1920

In a 4-3 decision (with two recusals) the Supreme Court decides in United States vs. U.S. Steel that U.S. Steel’s structure and action did not violate the Sherman and Clayton Acts. Size alone is not illegal, and sustained anticompetitive behavior is required.

03/19/1920

By a vote of 49-35, seven short of the required two-thirds majority, the Senate fails to ratify the Versailles Treaty. (Link to pdf of the Congressional Record debate and record of various votes.)

05/27/1920

Vetoes congressional resolution (“Knox-Porter Resolution”) that declared an end to the war with Germany, citing the resolution’s inability to hold the German government accountable for its actions. Wilson fears support for the resolution would tarnish the American name. The veto is sustaine in the House on 05/28/1920.

06/12/1920

Warren G. Harding wins nomination for President at the Republican National Convention on the 10th ballot. He had been 5th among top nominees on the first ballot. Calvin Coolidge is the Vice-Presidential nominee.

07/06/1920

Democratic Convention nominates for President James M Cox, Governor of Ohio and a former member of the House of Representatives and a newspaper publisher. The Vice-Presidential nominee is Franklin D. Roosevelt.

07/22/1920 Warren Harding Address accepting the Republican Nomination. 08/07/1920 James M. Cox Address accepting the Democratic Nomination.

08/18/1920

Nineteenth Amendment ratified, granting women the right to vote after a decades-long battle for women’s suffrage. The passage of the Amendment is certified by Secretary of State Colby on 08/26/1920. (Link to pdf of the certification.)

09/16/1920

Explosive detonated on busiest corner of Wall Street, killing 38 and injuring hundreds in the deadliest act of terrorism on U.S. soil up to that date.

11/02/1920

Warren G. Harding is elected to succeed President Wilson.

11/20/1920

Wins Nobel Peace Prize for his peace efforts during World War I. Second sitting president to receive this honor.

12/07/1920

Eighth Annual Message.

1921