Final answer:
The transition from isolationism to intervention is a significant theme in U.S. diplomacy history, embodied by the U.S. entry into World War I under Wilson's presidency. This shift was driven by the opportunity to spread democratic values and redefine the global order, fundamentally changing the role of the United States as a world superpower.
Step-by-step explanation:
A significant topic from the history of the United States that involves diplomacy is the transition from isolationism to intervention, particularly during the period surrounding World War I. Initially, the United States had adopted a stance of avoiding entangling alliances, as advised by President George Washington and further enforced by the Monroe Doctrine. This policy was chosen with the intent to focus on domestic concerns and to maintain distance from European conflicts, which had allowed American businesses to thrive.
However, with the outbreak of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson saw an opportunity to promote democratic values and reshape the global order. The U.S. intervention in the war marked a significant shift in American foreign policy from isolationism to a more active role on the international stage. If the U.S. had maintained its non-interventionist policy, the outcome and duration of the war might have been different, potentially altering the geopolitical landscape and the role of the United States as an emerging superpower.
Post-World War II, the United States continued to embrace a role of global leadership, recognizing that the diminished capacities of traditional European powers necessitated a stronger American presence to preserve international stability and counter threats like Communist expansion. The impetus for this shift was rooted in both the desire to promote democracy and free trade, and the recognition of America's growing economic might. This established the U.S. as a dominant force in foreign affairs, a position that has been maintained through various foreign policy doctrines like Big Stick Diplomacy, Dollar Diplomacy, and Moral Diplomacy.