Wilson and Isolationism
Wilson's foreign policy included a strong focus on international cooperation and collective security, as seen in his support for the League of Nations. However, Wilson also wavered on the issue of isolationism, as he initially advocated for a more restrained approach to foreign affairs.
During his first term as president, Wilson focused on domestic issues and avoided entanglement in foreign conflicts. He even won re-election in 1916 on the slogan "He Kept Us Out of War," as he tried to maintain neutrality during World War I.
However, Wilson's stance shifted as the war escalated, and he eventually led the United States into the conflict in 1917. Despite this intervention, Wilson still envisioned a post-war world based on diplomacy and cooperation, as exemplified by his Fourteen Points proposal for peace.
After the war, Wilson tried to rally American support for the League of Nations, which he believed would help prevent future conflicts through collective security and international cooperation. However, Congress ultimately rejected U.S. membership in the League, illustrating the ongoing tensions between isolationism and international engagement in American foreign policy.
Overall, Wilson was a complex figure when it came to isolationism, as he initially advocated for a more restrained approach to foreign affairs but ultimately sought to engage with the international community to promote peace and security.