The League of Nations

• AIMS

• STRENGTHS

• WEAKNESSES

• FLASHPOINT

• FAILURE

Encourage co-operation

Peace in the World

Disarmament Improve social conditions

AIMS

*Remember: the devastation of WW1 had horrified countries throughout the world. The League of Nations was seen as the only way to maintain the PEACE.

• Many countries supported it in early days as there was a real

desire for co-operation amongst nations

• Had some early successes:

Settled some land disputes in 1920’s

• helped refugees, dealt with spread of disease, fought for

better conditions for people (This brought early confidence)

STRENGTHS

We represent each one of the strengths of

the League of Nations!

• USA did not Join (Even though it had been President Wilson’s

idea. WW1 made the USA weary of getting involved in Europe’s affairs and

instead isolate itself from them.)

• The League did not have an ARMY!

Instead, they relied on putting economic sanctions on a country eg: stop trading

• Disarmament was not realistic

WEAKNESSES

I represent the League’s weaknesses. It had no

real strengths and relied upon goodwill!

The American Congress (Parliament) refused to allow President Wilson to join the

League of Nations. It wanted isolation from the problems

of Europe.

WEAKNESS: ABSENCE of powerful countries (USA and the USSR did not join the League of Nations. Without the USA –

the most powerful country in the world – the League did not manage to look strong enough to influence countries.)

Russia was not allowed to join because it was a

Communist country. This would later leave out

another powerful country.

WEAKNESS: A STRUCTURE for disaster The League of Nations had a structure where every single country had to

agree in order to get something done. This meant SLOW progress.

A picture of the leaders who represented the countries of the League

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Remember: we all have to agree before we take any

action!

“We should ban them from

trading with us!”

“I think that’s too harsh!”

“Lets deal with the problem

straight away!”

“Lets wait and give it more time!”

“We should do it this

way.”

“No we shouldn’t.

Lets do it my way!”

Such arguments meant that it took long periods of time to get

anything done.

FLASHPOINT Italy Invades Abyssinia 1935

“I invaded the independent country of Abyssinia in 1935. I wanted an Empire like Italy’s great Roman past. I knew my Army

would be OK because the League of Nations did not have one! I saw it as merely a talking

shop. They put economic sanctions on Italy but it made no difference to me. I got away with

large areas of Abyssinia.”

Hmmmm….very interesting! Britain and France were too afraid of war and did nothing to defend Abyssinia. What they did do was

to give large areas of Abyssinia to Italy in order to persuade them to withdraw. I wonder if I could get

away with such a move???

France and Britain afraid of WarAbsent powers (USA and Russia)

Ineffective sanctionsLack of an armed forceUnfair treaty (When dealing with Hitler)

Reaching decisions too slowly (Structure for Disaster)

European club, everyone had to agree

Why was the League of Nations a F.A.I.L.U.R.E ?

The League of Nations

• AIMS

• STRENGTHS

• WEAKNESSES

• FLASHPOINT

• FAILURE