The crucial defining period in American foreign policy took place between 1914-1925. Americans, driven by their own idealism and economic interests, would enter the Greatest war in Human history. Emerging victoriously, they would question whether America should take its place as a world leader or shrug off its responsibility to the world and continue its successful policy of Isolationism.  In addition, the failures of the harsh Treaty and reparations imposed on the Germans by the British and French would plant the seeds for another major conflict.

Updated 25 April 1997 1:13 P.M.