The League of Nations was created after World War I as part of the Treaty of Versailles.
Its goal was to ensure peace through collective security, prevent future wars, and resolve conflicts through diplomacy rather than violence.
The League struggled to enforce its decisions, especially as the 1930s brought increased aggression from fascist powers like Italy and Germany.
It had limited power, no standing army, and was weakened by the absence of the USA, and later by the withdrawal or defiance of key powers like Japan, Germany, and Italy.
The League of Nations was the first worldwide intergovernmental organization established after World War I to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars.
Successes and Failures of the League in Europe
Successes
The League resolved minor border disputes like the Aaland Islands (1921) between Finland and Sweden.
It helped settle the Upper Silesia dispute (1921) between Germany and Poland with a peaceful plebiscite.
The League managed the Greek-Bulgarian crisis (1925), stopping the fighting quickly and fairly.
It helped refugees and fought diseases through its humanitarian agencies.
Failures
It failed to prevent Italy's invasion of Abyssinia (1935) and Japan’s invasion of Manchuria (1931).
In Europe, the League could not stop Hitler’s remilitarization of the Rhineland (1936) or Germany’s expansion into Austria and Czechoslovakia.
It couldn’t enforce economic sanctions effectively or take military action.
Tip
Explain why the League was successful in small cases, but failed when major powers were involved.
Common Mistake
Some students say the League “did nothing.” That’s not true! It had real successes in the 1920s. Focus on the difference between its early peacekeeping and its later inability to stop aggression.
The Search for Collective Security
Collective security meant that all members of the League would protect each other if one was attacked.
It was supposed to be a peace guarantee, as in no more secret alliances or military buildup.
Why it failed
The USA never joined, which made the League weaker from the start.
Britain and France disagreed on how to use force and often prioritized their own interests.
Countries like Germany, Italy, and Japan left the League or ignored its rulings.
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Note
The League of Nations was established in 1920 as an international organization aimed at maintaining world peace and preventing future conflicts. It was the first organization of its kind, created in the aftermath of World War I.
The League's primary goal was to promote collective security through diplomacy and cooperation among nations
It was based in Geneva, Switzerland, and had 42 founding member states
The League's structure included an Assembly, a Council, and a Permanent Secretariat
DefinitionCollective SecurityA system where nations agree to protect each other against aggression, aiming to prevent war through mutual cooperation and support.
AnalogyThink of the League of Nations as an early version of the United Nations, but without the power or authority to enforce its decisions.
ExampleThe League of Nations was responsible for overseeing mandates in former Ottoman territories, such as Iraq and Palestine.