" He kept us out of the war"
parts of Woodrow Wilson's address to congress
"The effect of the war upon the United States will depend upon what American citizens say and do. Every man who really loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and fairness and friendliness to all concerned."
(Source: U.S. Declaration of Neutrality, 19 August 1914)
President Wilson's campaign slogan "He Kept us Out of War", was important to Americans because America had a long history of isolationism. Many of our forefathers had a strong belief in neutrality. Isolationism in America dated back to the first colonists from England.
When people from England fled to America, they wanted to leave all their troubles back in England and start over in the New World. They did not want to get involved with any of Europe's troubles. This was the beginning of a policy of isolationism in American government, that lasted for many years to come.
Woodrow Wilson restated this policy in an address to Congress and, at the time, most Americans supported his isolationist policy.