League of Nations

Q: What was the League of Nations and why did it fail?

The League of Nations (1920-46) was an international body designed to keep world peace, but it failed in its mission because members broke its own covenant, refused to participate in it, or refused to impose economic and military sanctions against aggressor nations.

Q: What was the main purpose of the League of Nations?

The main purpose of the League of Nations (1920-46) was to foster world peace, arbitrate international disputes, punish aggressor nations, and promote citizen welfare worldwide.

Q: What is the League of Nations now called?

The League of Nations is now called the United Nations, the body which, in 1946, inherited the League's assets and treaty obligations.

Mark Cartwright

Definition

The League of Nations was founded in January 1920 to promote world peace and welfare. Created by the Treaty of Versailles, which formally ended the First World War (1914-18), the League provided a forum where nations promised to resolve international disputes peacefully. Any state that attacked another would be subjected to the collective action of all the other members, first in the form of economic sanctions, and if necessary, military action.

More about: League of Nations

Timeline

28 Jul 1919
The Treaty of Versailles is signed, imposing guilt for WWI, reparations, and armament limitations on Germany and redistributing some of its territories.
Jan 1920
Foundation of the League of Nations.
10 Jan 1920
The League of Nations, precursor to the United Nations, is formally established.
1923
The Corfu incident, when Italy invades Corfu, is the first major challenge to the powers of the League of Nations.
28 Sep 1923
Ethiopia is the first African state to join the League of Nations.
1926
Germany gains a seat on the permanent council of the League of Nations.
Sep 1931
The Manchurian incident when Japan invades the Chinese region of Manchuria (Manchukuo).
3 Oct 1932
Iraq officially gains independence from Britain and joins the League of Nations as the Kingdom of Iraq, ending the British Mandate in the region that had been in effect since 1920.
Mar 1933
Japan leaves the League of Nations over the reaction to the Manchurian incident.
Oct 1933
Germany leaves the League of Nations.
Jul 1934
The USSR joins the League of Nations.
Oct 1935
Italy invades Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia).
Jul 1936
The League of Nations cancels its ineffective economic sanctions agianst Italy for its invasion of Abyssinia.
1937
Italy leaves the League of Nations.
1939
The USSR is expelled from the League of Nations.
Apr 1946
The League of Nations is formally terminated, its assets and treaty obligations are passed on to the United Nations.
20 Nov 1959
The declaration of the Rights of the Child is adopted by the United Nations General Assembly based on the original declaration of 1924 adopted by the League of Nations, standardizing the rights of children world-wide.