Paper 1 - Leauge Of Nations Background Flashcards
What was the League of Nations
The League of Nations was the establishment of a general associations of nations.
Who wanted to set the League of Nations up
Woodrow Wilson - 14 Points
When was the League of Nations set up ?
June 28, 1919
How many members did the League of Nations originally have?
42
Which major countries did not join the League of Nations and why ?
America - congress did not allow them to join - thought every time there was a crisis America would sent money and troops
Germany - Had to show that they were a peaceful country
USSR - Were communist
What were the aims of the League?
To achieve international peace and security
To promote international cooperation, especially in business and trade
To encourage nations to disarm.
To improve living and working conditions for the people of all nations
To uphold and enforce the Treaty of Versailles
What was the Organisation and structure of the League?
The assembly
The council
The secretariat
Agencies, committees and commissions
What was the Assembly and what did it do?
Met annually
All members of the League were represented
Considered matters of general policy and recommended action to the Council
Fixed budget
Decisions had to be unanimous - every one had to agree - made it very hard to come to a conclusion
What was the Council and what did it do?
Met four times a year and for emergencies
Had both permanent and non-permanent members
In 1920 - Britain, France, Italy and Japan were permanent members
What was the secretariat and what did it do?
Performed all the administrated and financial work of the League
Organised conferences and meetings
Kept records and prepared repots
What were the differnt Agencies, committees and commissions and what did they do?
The mandates commission ensured that Britain and France acted in the interests of the people of the former colonies of Germany and her allies
The Refugees Committee assisted in the return of refugees to their original homes after war
The Slavery Commission worked to abolish slavery around the world
The Health Committee began to educate people about Health and sanitation and started to deal with dangerous diseases
What ways could the League of Nations try and solve a dispute?
Moral condemation - putting pressure on a guilty country by bringing world opinion against them
Economic and financial sanctions - members of the League of Nations could refuse to trade with a guilty nation - often didn’t work because countries who were not in the League would trade with them instead (America)
Military Force - Armed forces from member countries could be used against an aggressor
Was the League Successful in the 1920’s - Yes or No
Was the League Successful in the 1930’s - Yes or No
1920’s - Yes
1930’s - No - Harder disputes - self interested
Why was the League able to achieve some successes in the 1920’s
People and governments did not want to repeat the horrific conflict of the first world war.
High level of goodwill towards the League - people wanted to make it work
Disputes between smaller countries were willing to accept the League’s decision
Countries were rebuilding after the war and were in no position, economically or militarily able to enter into further conflict.
What was the feeling of the League by Germany and the USSR
Germany viewed the League as a victors club
USSR viewed the League as a “anti-Communist” club
