League of Nations & Into the 1920s

Why was it strange that the United States did not join the League of Nations when it was created?

Essential Question

During peace talks President Wilson made adjustments to the 14 Points – Realized peace treaties alone would not create “just peace”

Group, including Wilson, wrote Covenant of League of Nation

Approved by Conference, & including in Versailles treaty

The League of Nations

2 Main Aims◦ Promote cooperation◦ Keep peace among nations

3 Main Agencies◦ An assembly◦ A council◦ A secretariat

The League was to work closely with the World Court

The League of Nations - Organization

The Assembly◦ Representatives from all member nations◦ Each nation allowed 1 vote

The Council◦ Main peacekeeping body◦ Originally 9 member nations, later increased to 14◦ 5 Permanent Members – England, France, Italy,

Japan, U.S.◦ Remaining seats filled by rotating nations

The League of Nations - Organization

Member nations agreed to submit disputes to World Court instead of going to war

Punishment for breaking agreement◦ Breaking diplomatic relations◦ Imposing of economic sanctions

The League of Nations - Organization

Provided way to deal with overseas colonies of Central Powers

The League was responsible for colony until it was “ready for independence”

The League then set the colony up as a mandate

The League of Nations - Mandates

The U.S. did not join even though Wilson helped promote the League◦ Wary of League’s power◦ Wanted to change Treaty of Versailles◦ Feared another war over issues that did not

concern them First Meeting – Geneva, Switzerland –

11/1920 42 nations attended Germany & Soviet Union later joined

The Start of The League

Global Epidemic◦ 1918 – Influenza Pandemic◦ Spread quickly due to rapid movement of people

during global war◦ Killed victims in 2 to 3 days◦ Just as mysteriously as disease appeared it

disappeared◦ Approximately 20,000,000 deaths

Post-WWI Era - Science

Scientific & Social Theories◦ Many began to think of the world as frightening &

unpredictable◦ Looked to Sigmund Freud, founder of psychology, to

ease uncertainty◦ Claimed unconscious often controlled peoples’

actions◦ Helped people understand destruction of WWI &

uneasiness

Post-WWI Era - Science

Major writings showed dissatisfaction with traditional ideas

Oswald Spengler’s Decline of the West said civilizations matured from youth until death

Lost Generation – Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald – Writings reflected loss of morality

Others experimented with new forms & motivation of unconscious

Post-WWI Era - Literature

Composers such as Stravinsky & Schoenberg attempted pieces vastly different from those of the past

Radios were more common – Music became aimed at mass audiences

Gave birth to new forms of music, like Jazz

Post-WWI Era - Music

Picasso & Braque created a new style called cubism – used geometric designs

Cubist painters showed objects from many viewpoints at once

Many artists focused on unconscious & insanity of war

Post-WWI Era - Painting

Steel lead to creation of functional buildings that were built for specific purposes as opposed to styles

Sullivan & Wright began this idea, & impacted architecture world wide

Post-WWI Era - Architecture

Main form – Motion Pictures Millions flocked to theaters Offered escape from everyday life 1927 film The Jazz Singer introduced sound Sports also became a popular leisure

activity

Entertainment

Economies improved & people spent more on consumer goods – Non-essential products

Price of “luxury items” dropped, which made goods more available for purchase

Radio advertisements & credit helped increase consumerism

Instant gratification reflected a change in attitudes of the time

Consumer Culture