Question

In what ways did the Progressive Era set the stage for U.S. involvement in the world today? In what ways are things different now?

Answer 1

Basically, the United States was very "isolationist" before the Spanish-American War and World War I. We felt safe, separated by oceans, from the rest of the world and saw no reason to get involved except for trade. World War I changed that, although isolationists remained vocal and influential until we were attacked by the Japanese at Pear Harbor. Now we are aggressively involved, diplomatically and sometimes militarily, all over the world and assume we must be. I'll find some links for you and post them separately.

Answer 2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_policy_of_the_United_States

http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/item/2005/0709/stat/staten_reality.html