President Woodrow Wilson was elected in 1912. He was overall a good president, however he was not very familiar with foreign policy. His thinking was that America should remain neutral and not get involved. This was true, America had enough problems to worry about as it was. Wilson was an honest man and wanted to keep the promises he made during his campaign. He began passing new laws including the Clayton Antitrust Act which made unions legal (Joseph, 19). World War I began in Europe in July 1914. President Woodrow Wilson successfully handled his war challenge because he declared war, made 14 points, and achieved peace between the countries. Wilson did not want to go to war, it was his belief that America should remain neutral. The war had not started in England but would break out very soon due to tension between the countries. “Wilson's first order of business was to propose a pact of friendship between England, Germany, and the United States” (Osinski 60). However, no agreement came from this peace operation. On June 28, 1914, war was declared, and at that time America had no reason to join the war or take sides. From the beginning of the war, American business and financial companies wanted to know if they could lend money abroad. American farmers and manufacturers wanted no trade restrictions with them and Wilson had to allow Americans to sell goods and lend money to any foreign country (Osinski 61). America played a role in the war, not directly, but it is not clear that America was part of the war. On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany. This was what Wilson didn't want to do, but good would come of it in the end. President Wilson was ready to present his plan for peace. He made his “Fourteen Points”, these were his 14 areas of correction and agreement. Some of these fourteen points include freedom of navigation, reduction of armaments, and the formation of an association of nations (Collins 96). During these fourteen points Germany was even noticed, stating, “We wish you to accept only a place of equality among the peoples of the world instead of a place of domination” (Collins 96). The words used by Wilson were carefully chosen and simply phrased. Wilson was applauded for his idea and newspapers wrote about him (Collins 96). In October, German leaders told the United States that they wanted to sit down and discuss ending the war based on Wilson's Fourteen Points (Collins 97).