Final answer:
Woodrow Wilson sought to limit American foreign involvement but World War I's moral implications forced him to engage more deeply, leading to the creation of the Fourteen Points and the League of Nations to promote a moral foreign policy and prevent future wars.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Woodrow Wilson aimed to minimize American foreign involvement, advocating a policy based on moral imperatives rather than expansionist self-interest, a departure from his predecessors. However, the outbreak of World War I and the egregious actions of belligerent nations compelled him to reconsider. Wilson's foreign policy soon shifted to include stronger engagement, both to protect American interests and to pursue a moral high ground.
With the escalation of the war, Wilson found a moral imperative to join the conflict, justifying it as an effort to 'make the world safe for democracy.' This led to the drafting of the Fourteen Points, which emphasized self-determination, free trade, and open diplomacy, ultimately culminating in the proposition of the League of Nations. Despite domestic opposition, the president strived to establish this international organization to prevent future conflicts, upholding his vision of a world guided by moral principles.Wilson's engagement in foreign affairs, despite initial reluctance, stemmed from both moral conviction and a strategic calculation to protect and extend American commercial interests, influence peace negotiations, and shape the postwar international order.
Learn more about Wilson's foreign policy here: