There were many aspects to Pres. Wilson's foreign policy
during his first term. The best known of these was his policy towards WWI, which had,
of course, started in 1914. With regard to this war, Wilson wanted to remain neutral.
He even held to this policy of neutrality after the sinking of the
Lusitania.
On other fronts, Wilson tried to be idealistic.
For example, he changed the laws on rates for using the Panama Canal (which we owned
back then), taking away an American advantage for the sake of free trade. Similarly, he
supported a bill that made the Philippines a territory (rather than a colony) and
promised it eventual independence.
On the other hand,
Wilson was also willing to use force, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean.
For example, he sent Marines in and took control fo Haiti and he meddled in Mexico's
civil war in order to support a contender that he thought would be better for the
US.
So Wilson had a lot on his plate during these years.
His policies are usually said to have been idealistic, but not all of them actually
were.
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