The outcome of World War I marked a significant inflection point in international relations, notably propelling the United States towards a leadership role on the global stage. Prior to the conflict, the U.S. had largely adhered to a policy of isolationism, but its pivotal contribution to the Allied victory underscored both its military might and economic power. The war facilitated the shift of financial capital from European powers to the United States, dramatically strengthening its international economic position. President Woodrow Wilson's pivotal role in the Paris Peace Conference and his advocacy for the League of Nations, albeit unsuccessfully in terms of U.S. participation, underscored an emerging vision of the United States as a champion of collective security and a new world order predicated on democratic values and self-determination. Despite the U.S. Senate's rejection of the Treaty of Versailles and the League, the war had fundamentally altered the United States' self-perception and reputation, setting the stage for its evolving intervention in global affairs and eventually its role as a superpower in the aftermath of World War II.
