The birth of the League. Flashcards
(8 cards)
What was 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
Whose idea was the League of Nations?
There were 3 important individuals that put the League of Nations together.
President Wilson originally drafted his ideas about the League of Nations in his 14 Points at the end of the First World War.
Jan Smuts of South Africa was involved in the discussions, as was British politician Sir Robert Cecil.
British prime minister David Lloyd George also contributed to the talks.
What were the aims of the League of Nations?
The League of Nations had a number of aims.
Its primary aim was to keep world peace, and solve disputes that might lead to war.
It wanted to achieve world disarmament.
It wanted to achieve global co-operation in trade.
It aimed to improve the lives of people worldwide.
When was the League of Nations formed?
The League of Nations came into being in January 1920
Where was the League of Nations based?
The League of Nations was based in Geneva, Switzerland. Switzerland was seen as a peaceful country and was also home to the headquarters of the Red Cross.
What was the covenant of the League of Nations?
The Covenant of the League of Nations was the name chosen by President Wilson to describe the League’s constitution.
It contained 26 articles, or laws, about how the League should be organised.
What were the problems with setting up the League of Nations?
The politicians who were responsible for setting up the League encountered some problems.
(1) The plans for the League were put together in a hurry.
(2) Critics felt the aims of the organisation were badly-defined or too idealistic.
(3) Britain wanted a simpler organisation that would only meet in emergencies, similar to the existing Conference of Ambassadors which oversaw the fulfilment of the peace settlement of the First World War.
(4) France wanted a strong league with its own army.
(5) American Congress decided the USA should not join the League.
(6) Other countries, such as the USSR and Germany, were not invited to join.
Why didn’t the USA join the League of Nations?
There were 6 reasons the USA did not join the League of Nations.
(1) The idea of the League of Nations was unpopular in the USA.
(2) Many Americans, particularly those with German ancestry, hated the Treaty of Versailles. They did not want membership of an organisation set up to enforce it.
(3) After the casualties of the First World War, many Americans were afraid their soldiers would become involved in conflicts not directly related to America.
(4) The League’s sanctions might hurt American trade.
(5) There were fears the League would be used to defend the British and French empires. Many Americans were anti-imperialist.
(6) Wilson was too ill to run for re-election in 1920 but the Republican candidate, Warren Harding, campaigned for American isolationism and a return to ‘normalcy’. These ideas appealed to the electorate, who voted him in.
