How did the failure of the League of Nations lead to WW2? Flashcards
What were the League of Nations?
The League of Nations was an international organisation that aimed to make the world more peaceful. It provided a platform for countries to solve the issues that might lead to war.
How did the League of Nations lead to WW2?
1) The League had structural weaknesses, they couldn’t put economic sanctions on aggressors as they couldn’t afford it with the absence of the USA. This motivated dictators like Hitler and Mussolini.
2) When the League did try to act, nations such as Britain and France would undermine the League if it benefitted them, for example the Hoare-Laval Pact. This showed that the League was ineffective, and encouraged dictators like Hitler and Mussolini.
3) As dictators like Hitler and Mussolini became more powerful, the League’s continued failures only encouraged them further. The events in Manchuria and Abyssinia proved that the League was powerless to stop countries that broke the rules.
What was the Manchurian Crisis and how did the League respond to it?
The Manchurian Crisis in 1931 was when Japanese troops invaded Manchuria for economic and political reasons.
1) The League issued a moral condemnation for Japan to remove its troops, but Japan refused.
2) The League didn’t issue economic sanctions because Japan had a trading relationship with the USA, who wasn’t a member of the League.
3) The nearest powerful country near Manchuria was the Soviet Union, but they weren’t a member of the League so couldn’t be called upon for help.
4) The League didn’t use military action as members couldn’t afford their armies to fight during the middle of a depression.
What was the Abyssinian Crisis and how did the League respond to it?
The Abyssinian Crisis lasted from 1935-1936 and was when Italy invaded Abyssinia in East Africa.
1) The League placed economic sanctions on Italy but they didn’t sanction oil, coal, iron or steel, therefore Italy could still prepare for war.
3) The League didn’t close the Suez Canal, which was owned by Britain France, because Britain and France didn’t want conflict with Italy. However, this still allowed Italy to build up men and supplies near Abyssinia more quickly.
What was the Hoare-Laval Pact?
The Hoare-Laval Pact was a secret agreement between Britain, France and Italy during the Abyssinian Crisis. It agreed that:
1) Areas of Abyssinia would be given to Italy.
2) Abyssinians would lose 66% of their land and would keep only the mountainous regions, while Italy would gain the fertile farmland.
