Final answer:
The U.S. involvement in WWI, although brief, was crucial and influenced by a mix of strategic concerns and incidents like the Zimmerman Telegram. The subsequent effects on U.S. foreign policy and global presence shaped the 20th century and could have been substantially different had the U.S. remained neutral.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether the U.S. should have been more or less involved in WWI involves a complex evaluation of historical outcomes and geopolitical strategies. As students investigate this topic, they learn about the conflicting pressures of the era and the potential alternative histories that could have unfolded. The U.S. involvement in WWI was influenced by a combination of factors, including the sinking of U.S. ships and the Zimmerman Telegram, as well as strategic and ideological concerns. As the war progressed, many Americans felt the need to protect the principle of free seas and to support allies.
President Woodrow Wilson's reluctance to engage in European conflict changed when the stakes became higher, as German victories seemed imminent and the Bolshevik movement threatened to spread. The U.S. eventually declared war and sent forces to aid the exhausted Allies. This decision led to a brief yet significant U.S. combat involvement which pivoted the tide in favor of the Allies. After the war, Wilson aimed to shape the post-war world with his Fourteen Points and the League of Nations. However, despite his efforts, the United States never formally approved the Treaty of Versailles nor joined the League of Nations due to domestic opposition.
Had the U.S. not entered WWI, it's likely that the American image abroad and at home would have evolved differently. The role of the U.S. in global politics and its commitment to international cooperation might have been questioned, which could have hindered its emerging status as a world power. This hypothetical scenario invites a nuanced discussion on the U.S. foreign policy legacy and its long-term global repercussions.