Final answer:
President Wilson's foreign policies differed from his predecessors as he aimed to minimize American involvement in foreign affairs and follow a less imperialistic approach. However, he faced challenges in staying out of world affairs while safeguarding America's interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Woodrow Wilson's foreign policies differed from those of his predecessors in several ways. Unlike his immediate predecessors, Wilson wanted to minimize American involvement in foreign affairs and follow a less imperialistic approach. He believed in acting only when there was a moral imperative to do so, rather than pursuing American self-interest. However, in practice, Wilson found it challenging to remain outside of world affairs without jeopardizing America's interests, leading to some interventionist actions in South and Central America, Asia, and Mexico.