IA Developing a Research Question

[quonCOBAIN]

I am currently pre-planning my HL US History Historical Investigation. I've considered a plethora of topics, and have examined several different questions that I could formulate from said topics. I narrowed my choices down, and have most recently decided upon writing about the effects of the development of foreign policies in the United States. My original research question read as follows: "How have the development of foreign policies in the United States affected it's relations with foreign countries?". But for some reason, I can't help but feel like the question is far too broad to write an essay consisting of only 2,000 words. So my question is: how do I go about making this more ideal for the HI? Do I select a specific country (i.e. - "How have the development of foreign policies in the United States affected it's relations with Germany?"), or do I select a specific time period (i.e. - "How have the development of foriegn policies in the United States affected it's relations with foreign countries during pre-WII?"), or do I select a specific foriegn policy (i.e - "How have the development of non-interventionism in the United States affected it's relations with foreign countries?")? Or furthermore, do I incorporate all three of these methods? Thanks for any help that you can offer! I truly appreciate it!

Edited May 30, 2011 by quonCOBAIN