1. The League of Nations Revision PowerPoint

2. What was the League of Nations?
An idea of American President Woodrow Wilson following the first world war
An international police force made up of representatives of many countries
An organisation that would allow disputes to be settled without resorting to war, based in Geneva (neutral).

3. Differing views on how the League should operate:
America
Britain
France
A world parliament where representatives would meet regularly to decide on matter which affected all of them
A simple organisation that would meet during emergencies
A strong League capable of enforcing decisions with its own army

4. Each of these types of League has advantages and disadvantages:
Although France’s idea of a strong League would mean it could be an effective force, the League was meant to be centred on peace. Potentially, its own army could provoke another war
Britain’s simpler idea would mean that the League would merely dealing with emergencies rather than working on preventing them from of occurring in the first place
America’s version of the League would be expensive and a complicated to organise, although it might have been the most effective version in terms of keeping peace

5. However, the idea of joining the League was not popular with all Americans…
Many Americans did not think the Treaty of Versailles was fair. As the League was linked with the treaty, they did not want to be a part of it
Americans wanted to stay out of disputes that might enter their troops into the kind of carnage of the first world war
Others wanted to avoid the economic cost of joining the League
Many Americans were anti-French or Anti-British. They thought the League would be run by these countries and did not want to get involved with their affairs

6. Wilson’s party lost the election in 1919
Wilson’s party lost the election in His opponents promised to follow a policy of isolationism (staying out of international affairs). And so America did not join the League of Nations…

7. Aims of the League Discourage aggression from any country
Encourage co-operation in business and trade
Encourage disarmament
Improve working and living conditions for people across the world

8. When it opened, some countries were not members of the League:
America:- had become isolationist
Germany:- As a defeated country who was blamed for staring the Great war, Germany was not invited to join
Russia:- Were not invited to join the League, mainly due to their Communist government

9. The Structure of the League of Nations

10. Successes in the 1920s
With the League’s help over prisoners of war were returned home
The slavery Commission brought about the freeing of over slaves in British-owned Sierra-Leone and organised raids against slave owners and traders in Burma
The Health Committee worked hard to defeat leprosy and malaria. It later became the World Health Organisation
Sweden accepted the League’s decision to give the Aaland islands to Finland. The two countries thereby avoided going to war for them
The League divided Upper Silesia between Germany and Poland after a plebiscite showed a clear divide. Both countries accepted this decision.

11. 1929 Wall Street Crash! This is MAJOR turning point for the league:
*Many members of the League were now focussed on solving domestic problems.
*The crash created a depression in Europe causing unemployment and poverty. Dictators rose to power as they promised a solution to problems. These were new problems for the League to face
*Had a major effect on Japan who relied heavily on international trade. This would eventually contribute towards the invasion of Manchuria

12. The 1930s… Were BAD for the League:
*The 1930s are always seen as bad for the league by comparison with the 1920s. Remember this for exam questions that ask about both
*There were three huge failures for the League in the 1930s:
The Japanese invasion of Manchuria
The failure of the disarmament conference
The invasion of Abyssinia by Italy

13. Failure #1: Manchuria
There was an explosion on the Manchurian railway that ran though China. The Japanese depended on this railway to transport goods into their country, whose natural resources and agriculture were limited by their mountainous terrain.
The Japanese invaded China on the grounds that it needed to safeguard its railway. However, they later also bombed Shanghai
China appealed to the League for help and the League ruled that the Japanese should return Manchuria to Chinese rule.
But Japan continued to invade new areas of China
The League discussed sanctions but its member were not prepared to send troops to enforce its decision…

14. Why did it fail? *Japan was too far away
*The League were worried about offending Japan who was an important member of the League
*Britain and France were more concerned about the problems resulting from the depression in their own countries
*Russia, the only country with troops and resources enough to combat the problem quickly in the region, was not a member of the League

15. Failure 2: The Disarmament conference 1932-3
In February 1932 the League of Nations began the long-awaited disarmament conference.
It produced resolutions to limit the size of artillery and tanks, ban the bombing of civilians and chemical warfare. HOWEVER, nothing was agreed upon as to how they would enforce these limits.
They were also unsure as to what to do about Germany- should all countries disarm to her level or should Germany be allowed to re-arm to the new universal lower level as the TOV had been too harsh?

16. Key events at the Disarmament Conference
July Germany walked out after the other countries failed to agree to all countries disarming to its level
December 1932 An agreement was finally reached to treat the Germans equally
January Germany announced that it was coming back
February Hitler started to re-arm Germany anyway in secret
October Hitler walked out of the Conference permanently and soon after withdrew Germany from the League of Nations

17. Failure 3: Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia 1935
The pale grey areas were Italian territory in eastern Africa.
You can see why Italy, who wanted to expand her empire, would choose this area of land.
Italy also wanted revenge after an embarassing failed attempt to take Abyssinia in 1896

18. The background Like Japan, Italy was an important member of the League
Like Japan, Italy wanted to expand its empire
Unlike Japan, Italy was right on the League’s doorstep
Unlike Japan, Abyssinia had borders with British colonies
UNLIKE Japan, the League could not claimthe problem was too far away to deal with.
This would be a very real test for the League

19. The events
1934 There was a dispute between Italian and Ethiopian soldiers at an oasis 8oKM inside Abyssinia.
Mussolini began preparing an army for an invasion
Mussolini claimed this was Italian territory
The Abyssinian emperor appealed to the League for help

20. So what did the League do?
Very little…
*The League was anxious to keep Italy on side. Italy was their best ally against Hitler.
*Britain and France signed an agreement with Mussolini about standing united against Germany and the problem in Abyssinia was not even discussed
*There was much talking and negotiating but nothing was actually done to discourage Mussolini
*Eventually a committee reported to the League that neither side was responsible for the conflict at the oasis. The League put forward a plan that would give Italy some of Abyssinia. But Mussolini rejected it.

21. The situation worsens…
October 1935 A full-scale Italian invasion of Abyssinia commenced
It was a clear sign of aggression and the League’s covenant (set of guidelines) made it clear that sanctions should be imposed.
It banned sales of arms, rubber, metals and loans to Italy.
However, these sanctions caused economic problems e.g. British coal-workers lost jobs because of ban of exports to Italy
And Britain and France were making secret plans behind the League’s back, offering Mussolini more of Abyssinia in return for stopping his invasion
Eventually, Hitler’s invasion of the Rhineland made many countries unwilling to upset Italy any further, as their support against Hitler seemed crucial.
The League watched helplessly. Mussolini annexed the whole country. The League had failed.

22. What were the reasons for the League of Nations’ failures during the 1930s?
Self-interest
Absence of important countries
Lack of Troops
TOV it was meant to protect was unfair
Decisions were slow
Sanctions were ineffective
We have our own problems!
You need to know how each of these contributed towards the League’s failures

23. Exam-style questions What were the main aims of the League of Nations?
What was the structure of the League of Nations?
Why did America not join the League of Nations?
Explain how the views of Britain, France and America differed as to how the League should be run
Explain why some countries were not members of the League when it opened.
Explain the successes that the League had during the 1920s
Explain why the League failed to deal with Abyssinia/Manchuria effectively
To what extent was the League of Nations a complete failure/ how successful was it at keeping peace