Teaching American History - Waynesboro
2008 Gilder Lehrman Institute
Each year the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in New York sponsors a series of summer professional development seminars for elementary, middle, and high school teachers of history. These prestigious seminars are tuition free and provide stipends, books, teaching resources and room and board to participants. They are a wonderful opportunity for teachers to gain content knowledge, earn recertification points, and network with colleagues.
In 2007, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library hosted a Gilder Lehrman seminar on “The Idea that is America” featuring Anne-Marie Slaughter, Dean of the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.
In 2008, the Library hosted a seminar on “Woodrow Wilson and the War Years” featuringPatricia O’Toole of Columbia University. The seminar was held in Staunton from August 11-15, 2008.
For more information about the Gilder Lehrman Institute, visit the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History website.
For more information about the WWPL's teacher institutes, contact, Joel Hodson, Ph.D., Director of Education at the WWPL, at (540) 885-0897, ext. 103, or at jhodson@woodrowwilson.org.
Anne-Marie Slaughter's and Patricia O'Toole's books can be purchased at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library President's Shop.



Wilson was president throughout World War I. He attempted to keep America out of
the war and even won reelection with the slogan "He kept us out of war." Nonetheless,
after the sinking of the Lusitania, continued run-ins with German submarines, and
the release of the Zimmerman Telegram, America became involved. with the Lusitania,
the continued harassment of American ships by German submarines, and the release
of the Zimmerman Telegram meant that America joined the allies in April, 1917.
Woodrow Wilson was President when the 19th amendment was ratified in 1920 giving
women the right to vote.
Wilson piloted the ship that brought America onto the world stage. He made the first
steps of leading us out of isolationism, violating Washington's tenet of avoiding
foreign entanglements.
He led America during World War I. His fervent hope was for the US to join a League
of Nations, the precursor to the United Nations.
A Woodrow Wilson Quote: "Life does not consist in thinking, it consists in acting."
A Woodrow Wilson Quote: "The Constitution was not made to fit us like a straitjacket.
In its elasticity lies its chief greatness."
A Woodrow Wilson Quote: "I believe in democracy because it releases the energies
of every human being."
The Seventeenth Amendment was formally adopted on May 31, 1913. Wilson had been
president for almost three months at the time. The amendment provided for the direct
election of senators. Prior to its adoption, Senators were chosen by state legislatures.
Wilson was the first president to receive a PhD which he got in Political Science
from Johns Hopkins University. He had received his undergraduate degree from the
College of New Jersey, renamed Princeton University in 1896.
Woodrow Wilson could not read during the first decade of his life. Though undiagnosed,
he may have suffered from a learning disability
Woodrow Wilson was known as "Tommy" until his college years.
Woodrow Wilson during his boyhood, helped establish the "Lightfoot Baseball Club"
with his friends. Wilson played second base and was an avid sport fan throughout
his adult life.
Woodrow Wilson was a graduate of Princeton University and Johns Hopkins University
and the only president to hold an earned doctoral degree.
Woodrow Wilson image is on the $100,000 bill although it is no longer in circulation