Woodrow Wilson

Author: (American) Harmon
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: "If you ignore the influence of his religious beliefs, you can never truly understand this person," a renowned scholar said when talking about Woodrow Wilson. "Because every action he took was ultimately determined by his Christian faith." Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, was the son of a pair of Presbyterian ministers known for their piety. Growing up in the South, he experienced the post-Civil War era of reconstruction and depression, witnessing firsthand the fear and hardship brought by the war. These childhood experiences not only tell us why President Wilson tried so hard to prevent the United States from entering World War I but also help us understand why, after his efforts failed, he still worked tirelessly to seek a just and lasting peace after the war. Unfortunately, Wilson's vision of "democratic security," which advocated for peaceful resolution of disputes through communication and dialogue between nations, has never been realized.