2.1.1 The League of Nations Flashcards
What were the League of Nation’s aims? (4)
- get countries to collaborate to help to prevent war (collective security)
- encourage disarmament
- improve living and working conditions
- tackle deadly diseases
What was the League written into?
The League was written into each of the treaties signed at the end of the war
Why was the League written into each of the treaties signed at the end of the war?
To make people recognise and respect it
How many countries joined the League initially?
42
Which group of countries were not allowed to join the League?
- Those who lost the First World War, including Germany, were not allowed to join
- Russia was not allowed to join because it was Communist
When did Germany join the League?
After agreeing the Locarno Treaty (1925)
When was Russia allowed to join the League?
1934
When Russia joined the League, how many member states were in the League?
58
Who did states send to the Assembly in the League?
Representatives
Which 4 countries were the permanent members of the Council in the League?
Britain, France, Italy, Japan
What did Britain think of the League?
Although Britain supported the League, it felt that action would be limited.
What did France think of the League?
France thought the League could help keep it safe from German attack.
What did the League set up in 1920?
the Permanent Court of International Justice
Why was the Permanent Court of International Justice unhelpful?
It could only advise on arguments and could not forcefully back up verdicts
What did the League deal with aggression through?
the Covenant
In the League, what did the Covenant include? (4)
- Mitigation
- Moral condemnation
- Economic sanctions
- Military force
Where was the headquarters of the league?
Geneva, Switzerland
Politically, how would you describe Switzerland in WW1?
Neutral
What did America refusing to join the League make it look like?
Weak and unimportant
What happened after the League stopped countries like Germany from joining?
International tensions continued
What did David Lloyd George issue and what did this state?
the Fontainbleau Memorandum - this stated publicly that he and the UK gave the League of Nations his full support
What is the mnemonic that could help you remember how the League would deal with issues?
4 M’s - Mitigation, Moral condemnation, Money and Military
Give 9 examples of how the League of Nations helped people
- Lead removed from paint which kills people when inhaled
- Improving working conditions
- Stopped slavery in Sierra Leone
- Campaign to kill mosquitoes to stop spread of malaria
- Set up shipping lanes in sea
- Set up refugee camps and people camps
- Helped to get prisoners of war home
- Solved Aaland Island dispute (Sweden + Finland)
- Upper Silesia (Germany + Poland argue - LON splits Upper Silesia for both countries)
Give 6 examples of weaknesses the League had
- No army - can’t force people to do what they want
- Structure - 4 permanent members (GB, F, I, J) can veto any action
- Structure - assembly meet once a year
- America never joins (strong country that everyone respects)
- Trade sanctions cant work because countries can still trade with America
- Punishments - mitigation (talk about it), moral condemnation (telling off), economic sanctions (stop trade), military action. LoN wouldn’t want to create economic sanction as they can still trade with USA
