What was the League of Nations?

Question 1

What was the “assembly” and what did it do for the LON?

Answer 1

1. It admitted new members, discussed the finances of the budget and main agenda ideas
2. Only met once a year
3. Decisions had to be unanimous with no veto’s

Question 2

What were the LON Commissions, and what did they do for the LON?

Answer 2

1. Small branches of the league which dealt with problems caused by the 1st World War.
2. The Health committee
3. The Mandates committee
4. The Refugees committee

Question 3

What was the Permanent Court of Justice and what did it do for the League?

Answer 3

1. The court of the League. Based in Hague, Netherlands
2. Gave decisions on the border disputes and passed laws
3. Gave legal advice to the assembly and council
4. Prime responsibility to amend and uphold the treaties

Question 4

When did the LON begin?

Answer 4

January 1920

Question 5

How many countries first joined the LON?

Answer 5

42

Question 6

What did the LON members agree to through the “covenant”?

Answer 6

1. Take any of their disputes with another country to the League
2. Keep the borders between nations agreed in the Paris peace treaties
3. To encourage all to disarm
4. Co-operate with each other, especially in Business and trade
5. To improve the living and working conditions of people in all parts of the world

Question 7

What is meant by the term, “collective security”, in the LON?

Answer 7

It is a term used to describe;
“if an aggressive nation threatens or invades a country in the LON, then all the countries may have to sanction their trade with the certain aggressor, or all fight that certain country with their armed forces”

Question 8

Which countries were in the league?

Answer 8

1. Great Britain, 1919-45. Didn’t get involved in many disputes as they wanted to keep their empire running.
2. France. 1919-45. Desperate to keep Germany weak.
3. 1919-37. Mussolini took Italy away from the League, as the League was not fitting with his plans

Question 9

What were the 4 main reasons for the American people and Congress to not want to join the League?

Answer 9

1. Many American people found the Treaty of Versailles (TOV), too harsh
2. Did not want to send troops to war as part of the “Collective Security” agreement, with a European nation they did not want to fight.
3. Disliked the idea of having to stop trade with an aggressive nation as the USA were trying to regain stability with their economy.
4. Some feared that the League would be dominated by Britain or France, and would be called to help defend their empires. Many of the US people were, “anti-empires”

Question 10

What did America want from the TOV?

Answer 10

Woodrow Wilson (WW) wanted the following:

1. To not be too harsh on Germany as he feared revenge would come into play later. Also concerned about extremist groups exploiting Germany.
2. Strengthen Democracy in defeated countries. Wilson believed the key to peace was, “Democracy”. he believed this as it meant that dictators, such as the Kaiser, could not take their countries unwillingly into war again.
3. Give self determination to small countries that had, once been a part of European Empires. Meaning they would be ruled by themselves
4. International co-operation. Wilsons idea of the LON

Question 11

What did Britain want from the TOV?

Answer 11

Lloyd George wanted the following:

1. Agreed with WW that Germany should not be punished too harshly as they feared of retaliation.
2. Wanted Britain and Germany to start trading again as Germany was their 2nd largest trading partner before the war.
3. Unlike Wilson, he wanted Germany to lose it Navy as it threatened Britain’s and the notorious British Empire