The 1920’s

Aims

Understand the Leagues aims

To understand how the Leagues membership and structure effected its strength

The League – What do we already know? Included in all the peace treaties after

WWI. One of Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points

that did actually get included in the treaties.

Germany were not allowed to be a member until they showed they were a peace loving nation.

This caused anger with many Germans.

Aims of the League of Nations

S – stop war I – improve peoples lives T- Trade co-operation E – Enforce the peace treaties e.g.

Treaty of Versailles D – disarmament

Optimistic beginnings

© Hodder Murray

A British cartoon from 1919/1920.

A new beginning

and direction for the world?

How did the membership of the League effect its strength?

Germany not allowed to be a member, had to show it was a peace loving nations – joined in 1926

Russia had betrayed the allies and made a separate peace with Germany in 1917

USA did not wish to join – felt it would be drawn into European wars, economic cost, dominated by France/Britain and some Americans were German immigrants and associated the League with the hated treaty.

What does this reveal to an historian about why USA did not join?

SOURCE 6B

What is the message of the cartoon? Use your own knowledge and the source .

Strengths and Weaknesses of the League

German, Russia and USA were not members at first

The Leagues main assembly met once a year

Communication and language

League did not have its own army

Unanimous votes were required in the assembly for action to take place

The League was created from the peace treaties

The main members were France and Britain in the council

The League had over 50 members

The covenant of the League set out its aims

Based in Geneva, Switzerland

In the assembly and council all nations were equal with one vote

Germany eventually joined in 1926

The League could use economic sanctions to damage a countries trade

Council set up as assembly too slow

Unanimous votes needed in the council

The Rabbit. "My offensive equipment being practically nil, it remains for me to fascinate him with the power of my eye.“ Punch Magazine 1920

Who is the new member? What do they represent? How has Italy and Mussolini brought them to the League? Corfu What does it

say about the League’s effectiveness?

Bulgaria (1925) Greece obeyed the League’s orders to pull out of Bulgaria in 1925.  

h. Jobs The International Labour Organisation failed to persuade countries to adopt a 48-hour week.  

b. Poland (1920) Poland took land from Russia, breaking the Treaty of Versailles. The Poles ignored the League’s order to stop  

i. Economic problems The League sent economics experts to help Austria and Hungary.  

c. Slaves The League attacked slave traders in Africa and Burma and freed 200,000 slaves.  

j. Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) Sixty-five countries signed the treaty to end war – but then they just ignored it.  

d. Disease The League worked to prevent malaria and leprosy.  

k. Refugees (1922) The League set up camps and fed Turkish refugees.  

e. Disarmament (1932) Disarmament talks failed, because Germany demanded as many weapons as everyone else.  

l. Corfu (1923) Mussolini ignored the League’s orders to pull out of Corfu in 1923, and made Greece pay money to Italy.  

f. Prisoners of War The League took home half a million World War One prisoners of war.  

m. Drugs The League closed down four big Swiss companies which were selling drugs.  

g. Reparations (1921) When the Germans refused to pay, France and Britain invaded Germany and made them pay.  

n. Invasion of the RuhrFrance invaded the Ruhr in 1923 to force the Germans to pay Reparations.

A. Loans reduced

C. US Loans to Europe

F. Industry and employment

increase

B. Increase in world trade

D. Industry and employment

decrease

E. Good profits

G. Poor profits H. Hardship for people

I. 1929 Wall St Crash