President Woodrow Wilson's reaction to the Russian Revolution, which began in 1917, was complex and evolved over time. Initially, Wilson expressed concern about the implications of the revolution for the broader war effort during World War I. The Bolshevik Revolution in October 1917, which led to the establishment of a communist government, alarmed Wilson and many in the United States and Europe who feared the spread of communism.
Wilson's administration took a cautious approach. In early 1918, he publicly endorsed the idea of self-determination, hoping that the new governments emerging in Eastern Europe post-revolution would align with democratic principles. However, his support for this principle did not extend to the Bolsheviks, as he was opposed to their authoritarian approach and the withdrawal of Russia from World War I following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918.
In 1918, Wilson's government even intervened in the Russian Civil War by supporting the anti-Bolshevik forces (the Whites) and sending U.S. troops to northern Russia as part of the Allied intervention. Wilson's decision was driven by a desire to re-establish an Eastern Front against the Central Powers and to support the Allied cause, but it was also motivated by a fear of the Bolshevik regime's ideology.
Overall, while Wilson initially viewed the Russian Revolution through a lens of concern for democracy and stability in Europe, his administration's actions reflected a combination of political pragmatism and ideological opposition to communism.