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Hans Hoyng argues that “America’s rise to superpower status began with its 1917 entry into World War I. President Woodrow Wilson had grand visions for the peace that followed, but failed. The battle he started in the US between idealists and realists continues to this day.”

What can we learn from the experience of WWI that helps us understand the debate over the American rise to power and influence? Is Hoyng right to argue that the battle that Wilson started continues in contemporary debates over foreign policy? Why? How?  As you address this question be sure to ground your argument in Kaufman’s treatment of the period, “The Peacemakers” film, and, more generally, link your answer to the earlier discussions of American foreign policy values.

Hans Hoyng : 

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/how-world-war-i-helped-america-rise-to-superpower-status-a-944703.html

Kaufman :

https://books.google.com.hk/books?id=hS4bwqBqoaEC&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31dq=Kaufman+2:+Unilateralism+to+Engagement+(World+War+1)&source=bl&ots=ybHHSrA1N9sig=DOLVe2BrfQkrsjBJ1TFfklHV3Uo&hl=ensa=Xved=0CBoQ6AEwAGoVChMIr5GGmfbpyAIVB2ImCh3bIQMz#v=onepage&q=Kaufman%20%3A%20Unilateralism%20to%20Engagement%20(World%20War%201)&f=false