The League of Nations was the first international organization established after World War I in 1919. Its primary mission was to maintain world peace through collective security, disarmament, and peaceful resolution of disputes. However, it struggled due to a lack of military force, non-participation of major countries like the US and Germany, and weakened member states after WWI. The US did not join because the Senate opposed being obligated to defend other nations as outlined in the League covenant.

1. The League of Nations
January 2013 – World History II

2. The League of Nations
• First permanent international organization whose principal mission was
to maintain world peace
• Founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1919
• Why Switzerland?
• Based on Woodrow Wilson’s 14th Point:
A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants
for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence
and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.

3. League covenant
• Principal mission: to maintain world peace
• Covenant describes commitment to preventing war through:
1. Collective security (the security of one is the security of all)
2. Disarmament
3. Settling international disputes through negotiation & arbitration

4. If disputes between nations arise…
The League had 3 options:
1. Verbal warnings
1. Economic Sanctions
1. Physical sanctions (military force)

5. Weaknesses of the League
Could not deliver on threats
• Maintained no military, and no member had to provide one in order to
join
• Could not carry out any threats of physical sanctions, and countries
knew that
Countries that didn’t join
• America did not join
• Germany was not permitted to join (until 1926)
• Russia did not join (until 1934)
Weakness of member countries
• Britain and France, still rebuilding from WWI, were not able to provide
the military force that the League would need to enforce physical
sanctions

6. Why didn’t the US join?
• Wilson’s 14th point – for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
in 1919
• A general association of nations must be formed under specific
covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of
political independence and territorial integrity to great and small
states alike.
• U.S. President may not ratify any treaty without 2/3 majority of the
Senate
• Senators (mostly Republican) especially objected to Article X, which
obligated the U.S. to defend any League member who was attacked
• Return to isolationism