World War I marked a change in foreign and domestic policies in the United States. At the time, this was the greatest European conflict the United States had been involved in. Though the war started over Archduke Ferdinand’s assassination and the domino effect of alliances, the United States officially entered after the Sinking of the USS Lusitania and the Zimmerman Telegram. Though the US did assist the Allied forces, the impact back home would be unlike that of any European country.

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The United States, famous for its large population of immigrant descendants, tightened up laws regarding immigration. This change resulted from a fear of dependents, refugees, and foreign radicals entering the United States. This xenophobia lead to the establishment of quotas after the war which stayed in place until 1965. This is hypocritical as the US was not afraid to get involved with international affairs, but afraid to face the consequences.