Part Two: League of Nations structure

Question 1

What was the League of Nations?

Answer 1

A group of countries that would work together to solve international issues.

Question 2

What were the four aims of the League?

Answer 2

SITE
1. Stop war from breaking out
2. Improve working conditions
3. Tackle deadly diseases
4. Encourage disarmament

Question 3

Where was the League based?

Answer 3

Geneva, Switzerland because Switzerland had not been involved in the war.

Question 4

Why was the USA not in the League despite Wilson advocating for it?

Answer 4

The Senate refused as the US faced many deaths in WW1, so wanted to isolate themselves from Europe.

Question 5

Why wasn’t Russia allowed to join the League?

Answer 5

Britain and France were suspicious of the new Russian Communist government

Question 6

Why wasn’t Germany allowed in the League

Answer 6

All losing countries of WW1 weren’t allowed to win.

Question 7

What year was the League formed?

Answer 7

1919

Question 8

What is collective security?

Answer 8

countries working together to maintain peace

Question 9

What was the Permanent Court of Justice?

Answer 9

An international court that settles international arguments

Question 10

What was the Covenant?

Answer 10

An agreement that setup: What the League was, and what members could expect to happen under it.

Question 11

What 3 ways did the League use DURING disputes

Answer 11

1. Mitigation - gathering countries to talk through problems
2. Economic sanctions- members of the League would not trade w/ warring countries
3. Moral condemnation- telling someone they are in the wrong

Question 12

What were the names of the five sections of the League?

Answer 12

The Assembly, The Council, The Permanent Court of Justice, The Secretariat, Special Commissions.

Question 13

Who was in The Assembly?

Answer 13

Every country that was in the League (they would have representatives in The Assembly )

Question 14

How often did the representatives from the Assembly meet?

Answer 14

Once a year on the 1st of September

Question 15

What did the members of the Assembly do in these meetings?

Answer 15

They discussed and voted on matters

Question 16

Did every country have an equal vote in The Assembly?

Answer 16

Yes

Question 17

How would a decision/vote be passed in The Assembly?

Answer 17

Every decision had to be unanimous

Question 18

If a decision was not unanimous in The Assembly, what would happen?

Answer 18

The decision would be passed to The Council

Question 19

Why did The Council exist?

Answer 19

The Assembly met too little a year to ensure the League ran smoothly, and was too large to react quickly in an emergency. So, the Council met more frequently.

Question 20

Who was in The Council?

Answer 20

Four permanent members: Britain, France, Italy, Japan. But, four other members were chosen to sit on The Council.

Question 21

What did The Council have the power of?

Answer 21

A veto, which could stop a ruling with it’s vote.

Question 22

What was an issue with The Permanent Court of International Justice?

Answer 22

The Court could only ADVISE parties involved in the arguments, and the League did not have an army, so it was difficult to force countries to agree to anything.

Question 23

What was The Secretariat?

Answer 23

The civil service of the League, so it was in charge of organising any action that the League wanted to take.

Question 24

What was Special Commissions?

Answer 24

Special groups put in place to tackle issues the League was worried about

Question 25

What are two examples of groups in Special Commissions?

Answer 25

-The Health Organisation
-The Slavery Commission

Question 26

What was a strength of the League which linked to peace treaties?

Answer 26

After WW1, the League was written into all of the peace treaties, which meant it was recognised by involved countries

Question 27

What was another strength of the League?

Answer 27

It had a vast membership

Question 28

What was another strength of the League which links to its vast membership

Answer 28

Moral condemnation and economic sanctions were daunting consequences for countries due to the Leagues membership

Question 29

What were two issues with powerful countries not joining the League. (weaknesses of the league)

Answer 29

Economic sanctions were not effective as countries could still trade with some of the richest countries. This also undermined the League as a ‘global organisation’.

Question 30

What was an issue with the League having no army?

Answer 30

They could not force people to follow their advice or rules.

Question 31

What was an issue with the League’s complex structure?

Answer 31

It confused people and slowed action

Question 32

What made decision-making slow?

Answer 32

Decisions had to be unanimous

Question 33

What was the Locarno treaties?

Answer 33

Treaty between France and Germany to improve their relations. Also between Britain, Italy, Czechoslovakia and Belgium who agreed not to go to war with each other.

Question 34

What was the German significance of the Locarno treaties?

Answer 34

The Germans had feared a French attack, so many felt this represented an end to German resentment of the Treaty. Diktat–> voluntary signing.

Question 35

What year were the Locarno Treaties signed?

Answer 35

1925

Question 36

Why were the Locarno Treaties deemed as a failure for the League?

Answer 36

The League were supposed to be at the forefront of international agreements, but were not involved at all.

Question 37

What were two key terms of the Locarno Treaties?

Answer 37

Germany officially accepted the borders created by the ToV (so they lost Alscace Lorraine). Thetwo countries also agreed to settle disputes peacefully.