Answer: U.S. teetering on isolationism and only being involved in world affairs if it directly affects the U.S.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Washington pursued an isolationist policy when he was President and this established a precedent for his successors in the 1800s. They generally tried to stay out of world politics unless it affected the U.S. directly.
Overtime, the definition of affecting the U.S. directly changed and as a result the U.S. became increasingly involved in world affairs starting from the Monroe Doctrine to acquiring territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific.