Final answer:
The United States adopted a mostly isolationist approach following World War I, despite President Wilson's initial internationalist inclinations and the establishment of the League of Nations. It intervened in limited capacities and sought to negotiate peace on its own terms. The U.S. Senate's rejection of the Treaty of Versailles and the League symbolized a larger retreat from international commitments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the student's question about the United States after World War I is D. The United States was mostly isolationist but did intervene in limited places and sought peace on its own terms. After World War I, President Woodrow Wilson had a vision of a postwar world that included the creation of the League of Nations, an international organization aimed at maintaining world peace and practicing collective security.
Even though Wilson's Fourteen Points and the idea of collective security gained attention worldwide, they ultimately were not fully embraced by the United States. Following World War I, the U.S. Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles or join the League of Nations, which led to a return of significant isolationist sentiment within the country.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the United States remained cautious in engaging in European affairs and international commitments. Despite this, the U.S. continued to exercise limited interventions, especially in the Western Hemisphere. This contrasts with the post-World War II era when the U.S. became much more actively engaged on the world stage.
Between the wars, while the U.S. did promote peace and might intervene occasionally, it largely adopted a foreign policy focused on independent action and avoiding global conflicts, characterizing it as somewhat isolationist yet willing to step in when its interests were directly involved.