World History Unit 9

 Please read the additional Russian Revolution Reading, and use it to create flashcards or flip cards in your notebook for the terms on your Unit Syllabus numbered 1-11;

 After World War I (WWI), international organizations and agreements were established to avoid future conflicts. Recall that one such organization, The League of Nations, an international cooperative organization established to prevent future wars and to administer the colonies of the defeated countries through the mandate system, was formed from the ideas of US president Woodrow Wilson in his Fourteen Points, the document which later largely comprised the Treaty of Versailles. From bold beginnings, the League of Nations was sadly destined to failure. Ironically, the US Congress had not agreed to allow the US membership in the League of Nations. The reason it failed was mainly due to the fact that it did not have real power to enforce its decisions. However, the League of Nations did set the stage for the United Nations, which would take its place after World War II.

 Specific reasons the League of Nations failed include the fact that the United States was not a member. The League did not have power to enforce its decisions. Major divisions existed among countries after WWI. Strong isolationism (National policy of avoiding political or economic entanglements with other countries) existed after WWI among the democracies.  Reasons why the United States did not join the League of Nations include that fact that the US did not sign the Treaty of Versailles ending the war. Strong feelings of isolationism were widespread in US. Political arguing was taking place between President Wilson and Senate Majority Leader Lodge.

 The League of Nations decided that for the general well-being of the world, the colonial holdings of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the old Ottoman Empire that had been lost after WWI, needed to be “looked over” by some of its more powerful member countries. A mandate is the practice of the League of Nations to give permission to its member nations to administer the government of a territory affected by WWI. The member countries were to help the territories develop their political, economic, and social spheres. In other words, mandates were territories formerly controlled by nations that had been defeated, mainly Germany and the Ottoman Empire.

 Under the mandate system, various Allied Powers were to govern these lands until they were able to stand on their own. Great Britain and France were to administer most of the mandates in the Middle East, thereby establishing their position in that region. These mandates included Iraq, Transjordan, and Palestine, which were now to be governed by Britain, in addition to Syria and Lebanon, which were now to be governed by France. However, the policy became increasingly controversial as the foreign administration of these lands stretched on longer and longer. The division of the Ottoman Empire through the mandate system planted the seeds for future conflicts in the Middle East.

 Make a list of all of the New Countries you see on the World Map after WWI  Then, next to each country, identify which country the new country was formerly called.  For Example:  Ireland (United Kingdom)  You have 15 minutes to complete this activity.

 How might these changes lead to conflicts in Europe later on?  Look at the map of Europe today in the beginning of your notebook. Which countries have been “lost?”