The League of Nations and Global Crises (1920s-1930s)

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the organizational weaknesses of the League of Nations, successes in the 1920s, the impact of the Great Depression, and the subsequent failures in Manchuria and Abyssinia.

Unanimous voting

A decision-making rule in the League of Nations where any country could veto a proposal, often preventing anything from being put in place.

Aaland islands

A border dispute between Finland and Sweden that the League of Nations successfully managed to sort out during the $1920\text{s}$.

Wall Street crash

A stock market crash occurring in October $1929$ that led to the collapse of the American economy.

Cycle of prosperity

An economic period in the $1920\text{s}$ where mass production and the conveyor belt system created jobs and cheap goods like the model t Fords, radios, and fridges.

Great Depression

A period of global economic collapse following the American market crash, characterized by lost jobs, low productivity, and the rise of extreme political parties.

Mussolini

The leader of the fascist party in Italy who came to power in $1922$, later invading Abyssinia to expand his empire.

Hirohito

The Emperor of Japan during the $1930\text{s}$ who performed ceremonial duties while the military held actual charge of the country.

Manchuria

A large area of China invaded by the Japanese military in $1931$ as part of an effort to expand their empire.

Mukden

The location where a bomb exploded on a Japanese railway, used as a false flag excuse for Japan to invade China.

Lord Lyton

The individual sent by the League of Nations to investigate the Manchurian incident; his report took a year to conclude that Japan had invaded China.

Abyssinia

An area in Africa, modern-day Ethiopia, that Mussolini planned to take over to expand the Italian empire in $1935$.

Halle Slessie

The leader of Abyssinia who was forced to leave after Italy completely overran the country.

Hoare-Laval pact

A secret agreement between the French and British foreign ministers to split Abyssinia with Italy, widely seen as a corrupt act that undermined the League of Nations.