One of the most vocal opponents of Wilson's proposal was Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Lodge argued that the United States should not join the League of Nations, an international organization that Wilson had helped to create, because it would infringe on American sovereignty. He also opposed Wilson's plans to send American troops to Europe to help enforce the peace treaties that had been signed at the end of the war.
Despite Lodge's opposition, Wilson was able to convince the Senate to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, which officially ended World War I. However, the Senate refused to approve American membership in the League of Nations. This decision effectively crippled the League, which lacked the support of the United States, its most powerful potential member.
The debate over Wilson's proposal for a more active role in world affairs reflected the deep divisions that existed in American society at the time. These divisions would continue to influence American foreign policy for many years to come.
In the end, Americans were cautious about embracing Wilson's vision of a more active role in world affairs. Instead, they pursued a policy of isolationism, aiming to stay out of foreign conflicts and focus on domestic issues.