Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) was the 28th President of the United States, whose idealistic vision for the post-World War I settlement — centered on self-determination, collective security, and the League of Nations — shaped international politics even as it was only partially realized.

Wilson led the United States into World War I in 1917, declaring that the world 'must be made safe for democracy.' His Fourteen Points speech (January 1918) outlined a vision for the postwar order: open diplomacy, freedom of the seas, free trade, arms reduction, colonial reform based on self-determination, and a League of Nations to prevent future wars. The speech made Wilson a hero to oppressed peoples worldwide.

At the Paris Peace Conference, Wilson's idealism collided with the realities of European power politics. Britain and France demanded harsh penalties for Germany and colonial rewards for themselves. Wilson compromised on many points to save the League of Nations — but the US Senate refused to ratify the treaty, and America never joined the League. Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke in 1919 and spent his final years an invalid. His vision of collective security and international cooperation, though unrealized in his lifetime, became the foundation for the United Nations after World War II.