A hundred years later: a quiz on Woodrow Wilson and going to war

Today is the 100th anniversary of President Woodrow Wilson’s second inaugural address, which foretold of the United States’ coming entrance into World War I.

In this important speech, a month before the United States declared war, Wilson described his understanding of a just and proper foreign policy and America’s role in relationship to the rest of the world. America still hoped for peace, but was prepared for war.

This quiz, from the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University in Ohio, tests readers’ knowledge of Woodrow Wilson, his second inaugural address and America’s reason for going to war.

1. What was Woodrow Wilson’s given first name?

A. Woodrow B. Charles C. Thomas D. Walter

2. What was Wilson’s famous campaign slogan during the 1916 presidential election?

A. “He kept us out of war” B. “Let us have peace” C. “New Freedom” D. “New Nationalism”

3. Shortly before Wilson’s inauguration, what event helped generate immense public support for U.S. entry into World War I?

A. XYZ Affair B. Sinking of the battleship Maine C. Zimmermann Telegram D. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

4. Why did Wilson’s inauguration take place in March, instead of January?

A. A disputed election delayed the final results.

B. Bad weather delayed the inauguration.

C. Wilson was recovering from a stroke.

D. The 20th Amendment didn’t exist yet.

5. Wilson used his second Inaugural Address to urge Americans to adopt what policy in regard to the war in Europe?

A. “Armed Neutrality” B. “Strict Neutrality” C. “Neutral Intervention” D. “Neutral in thought and action”

6. According to Wilson’s second Inaugural Address, which of the following is NOT listed as an American principle?

A. “That all nations are equally interested in the peace of the world.”

B. “That peace cannot securely or justly rest upon an armed balance of power.”

C. “That governments derive all their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

D. “That all men are endowed with certain natural rights.” 7. Less than a month after his inauguration, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany,

famously saying: “The world must be made safe for __________.”

A. Mankind B. All Time C. Justice D. Democracy

8. At Wilson’s urging, what international peace-keeping organization was created in the immediate aftermath of World War I?

A. League of Nations B. Geneva Conventions C. NATO D. United Nations

9. From 1902 to 1910, Wilson served as president of which academic institution?

A. Harvard B. Princeton C. Yale D. Columbia

10. To this day, Wilson is the only U.S. president with a Ph.D. What was his field of study?

A. Religion B. Political Science C. Literature D. History

Answers: 1-C, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D, 5-A, 6-D, 7-D, 8-A, 9-B, 10-B.

Jason Stevens is a visiting assistant professor of history and political science and an academic adviser for the Ashbrook Center’s master of arts in American history and government program at Ashland University. He wrote this for insidesources.com.

AP FILE (1917) Then-President Woodrow Wilson delivers his second inaugural address March 5, 1917, on the East Portico of the Capitol building in Washington.