iGCSE History Core Content B: To What Extent Was the League of Nations a Success

Why was the League of Nations created?

To maintain world peace, prevent future wars, promote disarmament, encourage economic cooperation, and improve living conditions globally. It was part of Wilson’s 14 Points.

What were the main aims of the League of Nations?

Prevent war through collective security, disarmament, resolve disputes through negotiation, improve living standards, encourage trade, and promote humanitarian efforts.

When was the League of Nations officially established?

10 January 1920, after the Treaty of Versailles.

Why did the USA not join the League of Nations?

Isolationism, opposition from Republicans, anti-imperialism, sympathy for Germany, trade concerns, Wilson’s illness, and Senate rejection in 1919–1920.

Who were the permanent members of the League’s Council?

Britain, France, Italy, and Japan.

What powers did the League’s Council have to deal with disputes?

Moral condemnation, economic sanctions, and military force.

What were the main weaknesses of the League’s structure?

Unanimous decisions, Assembly met only once a year, veto power by permanent members, no USA, limited enforcement power.

What were the successes of the League in the 1920s?

Aaland Islands (1921), Upper Silesia (1921), humanitarian work, and some diplomatic treaties like Locarno.

What happened during the Vilna crisis (1920)?

Poland seized Vilna from Lithuania; the League failed to act; France didn’t want to upset Poland; Britain wouldn’t act alone.

What was the outcome of the Aaland Islands dispute (1921)?

Sweden and Finland respected the League’s decision awarding the islands to Finland; a peaceful resolution.

What was the Upper Silesia crisis (1921)?

Plebiscite held; land split between Germany and Poland; Germany lost coal-rich areas; both initially accepted ruling.

What happened in the Corfu crisis (1923)?

Italy invaded Corfu after an Italian general was murdered; the League was bypassed by the Conference of Ambassadors; Greece had to pay compensation.

What happened in the Bulgaria crisis (1925)?

Greece invaded Bulgaria after a border incident; the League condemned Greece; Greece complied, but this exposed double standards.

How did the League help with refugees?

Repatriated 425,000 refugees, improved camp conditions, reduced diseases like cholera; lacked funding.

How did the League improve health worldwide?

Prevented typhoid epidemics, established research institutes, created malaria vaccines, promoted hygiene education.

What did the International Labour Organisation (ILO) achieve?

48-hour work week, minimum wage in 77 countries by 1928, banned poisonous lead paint.

How did the Slavery Commission help?

Freed 200,000 slaves in Sierra Leone, reduced railway worker death rate from 50% to 4%, disrupted slave traders.

What was the impact of the Great Depression on the League?

Increased extremism, militarism, trade tariffs, countries prioritised domestic recovery over League cooperation.

How did militarism in the 1930s affect the League?

Italy, Germany, and Japan rearmed; League lacked force to stop aggression; Britain and France reluctant to act.

How did the League respond to the Manchurian Crisis (1931–1933)?

Slow reaction, Lytton Report took 18 months, Japan ignored sanctions and left the League, exposed League’s weakness.

How did the League respond to the Abyssinian Crisis (1935–1936)?

League imposed sanctions but didn’t close Suez Canal; Hoare-Laval Pact undermined League; Italy captured Abyssinia.

What was the significance of the Locarno Treaty (1925)?

Germany accepted western borders, improved relations, led to Germany joining the League in 1926.

What was the Dawes Plan (1924)?

Reduced reparations to £50 million/year, US loans improved German industry, restored Franco-German relations.

What was the Young Plan (1929)?

Reduced reparations from £6.6 billion to £2 billion, repayment deadline extended to 1988, boosted German economy.

Why did Hitler leave the League in 1933?

Disarmament failure; other countries refused to disarm to Germany’s level; Hitler used this as an excuse to leave.

What caused the League to collapse after 1936?

Failure in Manchuria and Abyssinia; no authority; rise of Hitler; WWII began in 1939; League disbanded in 1946.