To what extent was the League of Nations a success?

• Focus Points

• • How successful was the League in the 1920s?

• • How far did weaknesses in the League’s organisation make failure inevitable?

• • How far did the Depression make the work of the League more difficult?

• • How successful was the League in the 1930s?

To what extent was the League of Nations a success?

Specified Content

•The League of Nations:

- strengths and weaknesses in its structure and organisation

- successes and failures in peacekeeping during the 1920s

- the impact of the World Depression on the work of the League after 1929

- the failures of the League in the 1930s, including Manchuria and Abyssinia.

The League of Nations: Structure

The League of Nations: Structure

Copy this diagram in your books and

give as much detail about the strengths

and weaknesses of the structure.

The League of Nations: Structure

Officials who worked permanently for the League in Geneva were known as the Secretariat.

The League of Nations: Structure

Officials who worked permanently for the League in Geneva were known as the Secretariat.

Committees and commissions: deal with worldwide problems. E.g. International Labour Organisation, Health Organisation.

The League of Nations: Structure

Officials who worked permanently for the League in Geneva were known as the Secretariat.

Committees and commissions: deal with worldwide problems. E.g. International Labour Organisation, Health Organisation.

The smaller states could have their say in the assembly and through being non-permanent members on the council. They met once a year.

The League of Nations: Structure

Officials who worked permanently for the League in Geneva were known as the Secretariat.

Committees and commissions: deal with worldwide problems. E.g. International Labour Organisation, Health Organisation.

The smaller states could have their say in the assembly and through being non-permanent members on the council. They met once a year.

Real power lay with the League Council which was dominated by rich and powerful countries: Japan, France, Italy and Britain.

The League of Nations: Structure

Officials who worked permanently for the League in Geneva were known as the Secretariat.

Committees and commissions: deal with worldwide problems. E.g. International Labour Organisation, Health Organisation.

The smaller states could have their say in the assembly and through being non-permanent members on the council. They met once a year.

Real power lay with the League Council which was dominated by rich and powerful countries: Japan, France, Italy and Britain.

Veto: council decisions had to be

unanimous.

The League of Nations: Structure

Officials who worked permanently for the League in Geneva were known as the Secretariat.

Committees and commissions: deal with worldwide problems. E.g. International Labour Organisation, Health Organisation.

The smaller states could have their say in the assembly and through being non-permanent members on the council. They met once a year.

Real power lay with the League Council which was dominated by rich and powerful countries: Japan, France, Italy and Britain.

Veto: council decisions had to be

unanimous.

What progress can be made from meeting once

a year?

The League of Nations: Structure

Officials who worked permanently for the League in Geneva were known as the Secretariat.

Committees and commissions: deal with worldwide problems. E.g. International Labour Organisation, Health Organisation.

The smaller states could have their say in the assembly and through being non-permanent members on the council. They met once a year.

Real power lay with the League Council which was dominated by rich and powerful countries: Japan, France, Italy and Britain.

Veto: council decisions had to be

unanimous.

What progress can be made from meeting once

a year?

Who were left out?

The League of Nations: Structure

Officials who worked permanently for the League in Geneva were known as the Secretariat.

Committees and commissions: deal with worldwide problems. E.g. International Labour Organisation, Health Organisation.

The smaller states could have their say in the assembly and through being non-permanent members on the council. They met once a year.

Real power lay with the League Council which was dominated by rich and powerful countries: Japan, France, Italy and Britain.

Veto: council decisions had to be

unanimous.

What progress can be made from meeting once

a year?

Who were left out?

European Club?

World voice?

Collective Security Sanctions & Force

These symbols represent problems of theLeague of Nations. Discuss with your

partner what you think these problems are.

Exam Relevance: b) Why was the structure of the League a weakness? [7] (June 2008)

You should be able to describe the weaknesses of the League based on its structure.

Be specific in your references to the structure of the League in your response.

Be sure to have a topic sentences to start and a final sentence that clearly links back to the question.

How successful was the League of Nations in the 1920s and

1930s?

1920s

VILNA, 1920

1920

Corfu, 1923Greek-Bulgarian War, 1925

Polish-Soviet War 1920-21

Ruhr 1923

1920s

VILNA, 1920

1920

Corfu, 1923Greek-Bulgarian War, 1925

Polish-Soviet War 1920-21

Ruhr 1923

Write a summary for each event and decide whether it was a success or a failure.

1920s

VILNA, 1920

1920

Corfu, 1923Greek-Bulgarian War, 1925

Polish-Soviet War 1920-21

Ruhr 1923

1920s

VILNA, 1920

1920

Corfu, 1923Greek-Bulgarian War, 1925

Polish-Soviet War 1920-21

Ruhr 1923

1920s

VILNA, 1920

1920

Corfu, 1923Greek-Bulgarian War, 1925

Polish-Soviet War 1920-21

Ruhr 1923

1920s

VILNA, 1920

1920

Corfu, 1923Greek-Bulgarian War, 1925

Polish-Soviet War 1920-21

Ruhr 1923

1920s

VILNA, 1920

1920

Corfu, 1923Greek-Bulgarian War, 1925

Polish-Soviet War 1920-21

Ruhr 1923

1920s

VILNA, 1920

1920

Corfu, 1923Greek-Bulgarian War, 1925

Polish-Soviet War 1920-21

Ruhr 1923

Humanitarian Successes

• The League of Nations also did a lot of useful humanitarian work in the 1920s.

Commissions dealt with many issues, including:

droughts in Africa

leprosy

child slave labour

drugs smuggling

refugees.

The League of Nations was the first to suggest that the world community should take collective action

to tackle this sort of problem.

1920s

International Labour Organisation

Disarmament Commission (1921)

Refugee Committee

Drugs Committee

Copy and complete the chart below.

1920s

International Labour Organisation

Produced numerous conventions on wage rates, health and safety,

employment of women and children etc. Failed to persuade countries to

adopt a 48-hr week.

Disarmament Commission (1921)

Refugee Committee

Drugs Committee

1920s

International Labour Organisation

Produced numerous conventions on wage rates, health and safety,

employment of women and children etc. Failed to persuade countries to

adopt a 48-hr week.

Disarmament Commission (1921)

Naval powers agreed to reduce number of warships, 1921.

It failed to get an agreement on disarmament because Britain objected.

Refugee Committee

Drugs Committee

1920s

International Labour Organisation

Produced numerous conventions on wage rates, health and safety,

employment of women and children etc. Failed to persuade countries to

adopt a 48-hr week.

Disarmament Commission (1921)

Naval powers agreed to reduce number of warships, 1921.

It failed to get an agreement on disarmament because Britain objected.

Refugee Committee1922: helped 425,000 prisoners to return

home.1919-1923:Found homes for 600,000

Greeks fleeing Turkey.

Drugs Committee

1920s

International Labour Organisation

Produced numerous conventions on wage rates, health and safety,

employment of women and children etc. Failed to persuade countries to

adopt a 48-hr week.

Disarmament Commission (1921)

Naval powers agreed to reduce number of warships, 1921.

It failed to get an agreement on disarmament because Britain objected.

Refugee Committee1922: helped 425,000 prisoners to return

home.1919-1923:Found homes for 600,000

Greeks fleeing Turkey.

Drugs Committee

Persuaded states to tighten up customs and postal controls, and educate people about

dangers of drugs. Some success with improving controls but

could not defeat determined drugs producers.

The Great Depression

The Great DepressionThink about the ways in which the

League of Nations planned to maintain international peace.

The Great DepressionThink about the ways in which the

League of Nations planned to maintain international peace.

How might the Depression make the following things difficult?

• Use of public opinion• Use of force• Use of trade sanctions• Disarmament

Use of public opinion

Use of public opinionWith so many people unemployed

and struggling to even feedthemselves…would they be so worried

about what’s happening in the rest of theworld?

Use of public opinionWith so many people unemployed

and struggling to even feedthemselves…would they be so worried

about what’s happening in the rest of theworld?

Would they want their country tointerfere with others when they

have so many problems at home?

Use of public opinionWith so many people unemployed

and struggling to even feedthemselves…would they be so worried

about what’s happening in the rest of theworld?

Would they want their country tointerfere with others when they

have so many problems at home?

What type of political parties do desperate people vote for?

Use of force

Use of force

Did the League of Nations have it’s own armed forces?

Use of force

Did the League of Nations have it’s own armed forces?

During a depression would countrieswant to spend money on providing

armed forces?

Use of trade sanctions

The volume of international trade fell by 70% as countries brought in import tariffs – by taxing imports, countries sought to prevent cheaper foreign goods undercutting their domestic industries.

Use of trade sanctions

The volume of international trade fell by 70% as countries brought in import tariffs – by taxing imports, countries sought to prevent cheaper foreign goods undercutting their domestic industries.

With a large drop in trade, will countries be willing to stop trade

with an aggressive country?

Disarmament

DisarmamentThe Depression led to a rise in extreme

nationalist leaders:

• This gave a rise in • militarism.

DisarmamentThe Depression led to a rise in extreme

nationalist leaders:

• This gave a rise in • militarism.

Will other countries be willing to disarmwhen countries such as Japan, Italy

and Germany are increasing their army?

An OverviewHow the depressionaffected the League

There was less international cooperation. The USA and other nations looked to take

care of themselves instead of worrying about world peace and humanitarian issues.

Britain and France no longer wished to sort out international disputes that would cost them money

and could further damage their trade.

Desperate people suffering terrible economic hardship

increasingly turned to leaders offering radical

solutions. This led to the rise of militaristic fascist

governments.

An OverviewHow the depressionaffected the League

There was less international cooperation. The USA and other nations looked to take

care of themselves instead of worrying about world peace and humanitarian issues.

Britain and France no longer wished to sort out international disputes that would cost them money

and could further damage their trade.

Desperate people suffering terrible economic hardship

increasingly turned to leaders offering radical

solutions. This led to the rise of militaristic fascist

governments.

Do you think the League of Nationswould be able to deal with

problems effectively in the 1930s?

1930sThe Manchurian Crisis, 1931-33

The Crisis of Abyssinia, 1935

1930sThe Manchurian Crisis, 1931-33

The Crisis of Abyssinia, 1935

Write a summary for each event and decide whether it was a success or a failure.

1930sThe Manchurian Crisis, 1931-33

The Crisis of Abyssinia, 1935

1930sThe Manchurian Crisis, 1931-33

The Crisis of Abyssinia, 1935

1930sThe Manchurian Crisis, 1931-33

The Crisis of Abyssinia, 1935

1930sThe Manchurian Crisis, 1931-33

The Crisis of Abyssinia, 1935What are the consequences of

such failures?

Exam Relevance:c) How successful was the League of Nations in dealing with disputes in the 1920s and 1930s? Explain your answer. (June 2008)

a) What were the successes of the League of Nations in the 1920s?

b) How far was the Great Depression responsible for the failure of the League of Nations in the 1930s?

Exam Relevance: Nov 2006

(a) Describe the successes of the League of Nations in peacekeeping in the 1920s. [5]

(b) Explain how the Japanese invasion of Manchuria showed the weaknesses of the League. [7]

(c) Which was the more important cause of the failure of the League of Nations – the World Depression of the 1930s or the invasion of Abyssinia? Explain your answer.[8]

Exam Relevance: Nov 2008

(a) Describe the humanitarian work of the League of Nations in the 1920s.[5]

(b) Why was the League able to achieve some successes in the 1920s in dealing with international disputes? [7]

(c) How far can the World Depression be blamed for the failure of the League? Explain your answer.

Exam Relevance: Nov 2005

(a) Describe the successes of the League of Nations in the 1920s. [5]

(b) Why did the League fail to deal with Japanese aggression against Manchuria? [7]

(c) ‘It was the Abyssinian crisis that destroyed the League of Nations as an effective peacekeeping body.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [8]

Exam Relevance: Jun 2008

Describe the work of the Agencies of the League of Nations. [5]

Why was the structure of the League a weakness? [7]

How successful was the League of Nations in dealing with disputes in the 1920s and 1930s? Explain your answer. [8]