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League of Nations

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Submitted By kerrsz
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Pages 4
Kerryann Simpson
Professor Livingston Smith
History 131-2
March 18th, 2014

“Examine the reasons why the League of Nations failed to preserve peace.”

Weaknesses of the League of Nations

The League of Nations came into existence on 10 January 1920 as a result of the First World War (WW1), it was one of Woodrow Wilson's 14 points to create a body that would settle international disputes in ways other than fighting / military action. He wanted to prevent another war like WW1. The main aims of the League of Nations were to maintain peace through collective security and to encourage international co-operation. The league had a number of successes, but a greater number of failures, thus it was not a complete failure in its attempt to preserve peace. The failures of the League of Nations were caused by their great amount of weaknesses. There was a lack of world powers, they lacked military power. They used economic or trade sanctions instead of force, that which they did not have. Their decision making ways were slow which led to a delay in their responses in problems. The leading members in the League of Nations had a greater self-interest for their own countries and their economic growth. In many circumstances the League of Nations was seen as weak and useless. As commonly known, one of its’ greatest weaknesses was the absence of the United States (U.S) despite the fact that it was Wilson, the president of the U.S who initiated the idea; when the American people voted for a policy of isolation, Wilson opted not to join the League of Nations. With America being one of the most influential and powerful countries, this resulted in the League lacking vital support along with the refusal to make huge decisions that would go against such a great country. The United States was not the only powerful country that was not a part of the League of Nations. Two

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