Primary sourceSpeech4 March 1913
First Inaugural Address of Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson · 4 March 1913
Wilson's 1913 inaugural address, setting out his New Freedom program of tariff, banking and industrial reform.
Wilson delivered this address himself as his first statement of policy upon taking office.
About this source
What it is
This is the speech Woodrow Wilson delivered on 4 March 1913 upon becoming President of the United States. It is held by the Library of Congress.
Why it matters
In the address, Wilson reflects on the Democratic Party's return to power and lays out his reform agenda, later known as the New Freedom, which aimed at tariff, banking and industrial reform. It shows how Wilson framed his presidency as answering a national demand for change, and reveals his view of government's purpose at the start of a transformative era in American politics.
Look closer
- What does Wilson say the political change of 1912-13 means for the nation?
- How does he describe the problems he intends to fix?
- What does the speech leave unsaid about how these reforms would be carried out?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Woodrow Wilson on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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