He had tried practicing law, but did not make a success of it and decided to be a teacher. In this he is like many other Americans who have failed in their first undertaking, and have later been successful in a different line. He taught first at Bryn Mawr, a woman's college near Philadelphia, then at Wesleyan, the old Methodist university, then at Princeton. "Princeton, Trenton, Washington"—Wilson's career has been jokingly summed up, for he was in turn chosen president of Princeton, governor of New Jersey, whose capital Trenton is, and President of the United States. On the whole, his record at Princeton and Trenton, and as President during his first term, was that of a liberal and fearless chief. The elections of 1916 came at a critical time and President Wilson was reëlected partly because "he kept us out of war." Banners with this motto on them were largely used in the campaign. The American nation did not have that "warlike spirit" of loving war for war's sake which the Kaiser boasted of in his people.
A Mexican Crisis
In 1913 Mexico had been so upset that it looked as though the United States might be drawn into a clash with her. President Wilson avoided this except when our soldiers landed at Vera Cruz for a short time. Later General John J. Pershing was sent down to Mexico to punish Villa and his outlaw bands. He killed many of Villa's followers, but the wily old fox himself escaped.
Germany's lawless acts
After the Lusitania was sunk, the submarine warfare grew more widespread and reckless month by month. In January, 1917, Germany openly declared that in the future she would not limit this warfare by any rules whatever. She aimed to cut off all supplies from Great Britain and to starve her people. She gave America one little port among the British Isles where the United States might send her passengers and commerce. Secret agents of the Central Powers had been blowing up factories in the United States, and purchasing newspapers to defend the German cause. Their treacherous acts had already caused President Wilson to dismiss the German ambassador.
Germany's statement that hereafter her submarines would know no law at last proved to all the nation that America could not honorably remain out of the war.
AMERICA ENTERS TO WIN
Loans to the Allies
237. Congress Votes Billions. Congress voted billions of money to be spent in various ways, and President Wilson loaned millions of dollars to England, France, and Italy. They in turn sent great men to talk with those who were managing our war preparations.