History Module 2 Flashcards
Why did the USA not join the League of Nations?
Wilson did not get support from the US Congress. The League was unpopular with the American public.
Why was the League of Nations not popular with the American public?
- The Treaty of Versailles was unpopular
- Imposed sanctions would harm American businesses
- Reluctance to provide soldiers
- Reluctance to aid empires
What were the aims of the League of Nations?
- Discourage aggression
- Encourage international co-operation
- Encourage disarmament
- Improve living and working conditions
(Aggression, Co-operation, Disarmament, Conditions - ACDC)
What is collective security?
Safety in numbers. All members of the League are safer because they have the other members protecting them. Nations are less likely to go to war thanks to discouragement from the League.
Why did Britain and France not believe in the League of Nations?
- Both weakened by WWI
- Neither able to fill power/resources gap left by the USA
- Sanctions would only work if the USA applied them
- Each prioritised national interest over the success of the League
What were the nine main bodies of the League of Nations?
- The Council
- The Assembly
- The Secretariat
- The Permanent Court of International Justice
- The International Labour Organisation (ILO)
- The Mandates Commission
- The Refugees Committee
- The Slavery Commission
- The Health Committee
What is the difference between the League of Nations’ council and assembly?
Council:
1. Met 5 times a year
2. Had permanent members and temporary members
3. Powers: Moral condemnation, sanctions, army
4. Each member has a veto
Assembly:
1. Met once a year
2. Every member nation represented
3. Could recommend action to the council
4. Vote on admitting new members
Out of the disputes of Vilna, the Aaland Islands, Corfu, and Bulgaria, which were considered successes and which were considered failures?
Successes: Aaland Islands, Bulgaria
Failures: Vilna, Corfu
Why did the League of Nations have some successes in the 1920s?
Economic prosperity: nations had power and resources to spare on international disputes and humanitarian work.
Unity between Britain and France: Main successes by the League were because the two leading nations were united in their decision.
Why was the League of Nations unable to stop Italian aggression in Corfu?
While Britain was prepared to condemn Mussolini’s actions, France backed the Italians (most likely because its forces were unavailable and it therefore could not handle a dispute with Italy). Britain was not prepared to act without France.
What were the four main social issues the League of Nations tackled with its humanitarian work?
- Refugees
- Working conditions
- Health
- Slavery and forced labour
Which of these two struggled and why?
Both the Refugees Committee and the ILO suffered from lack of funding and power.
Which was the most successful?
The Health Committee. It was continued after 1945 as the World Health Organisation.
What caused the Great Depression, and why did it effect the world so greatly?
The American Wall Street Crash in 1929. In the 1920s, The USA was a market for other countries. When the US economy crashed, it caused a domino effect which cascaded into a global crisis.
Why did the Depression negatively effect the League of Nations?
Member nations were starved of resources and power. Leading nations’ top priorities were national interests rather than solving international disputes.
