Failure of LoN + global depression

• When was the Wall Street Crash

  Oct 1929
• What were the causes of the Manchurian crisis (1931)

  • Japan was a rising power wanted to expand
  • Japan's economy relied on silk exports but demand plummeted after depression as people couldn't afford luxuries
  • Japanese industry went into decline as unemployment rose
  • Manchuria rich in farmland and raw materials (coal , iron ore)
• What were the events of the Manchurian crisis (1931)

  • Japanese staged an explosion on the South Manchurian railway and blamed the Chinese
  • Then Japanese invaded Chinese territory of Manchuria
  • League was reluctant to act and Japan was a leading member
• What was the significance of the Manchurian crisis (1932)

  • Main league member, Japan, ignored moral condemnations which set a precedent that League was powerless against strong forces
  • Depression meant LoN was powerless and they didn't want to give out sanctions + military actions were costly
  • League failed to maintain peace
• What were the causes of the Abyssinian crisis

  • Italy tried + failed to conquer Abyssinia before
  • Mussolini wanted to restore national pride + rebuild Roman Empire
  • He thought LoN wouldn't stop him
• What were the events of the Abyssinian crisis

  • 1934 - Italian + Abyssinian soldiers fight at Wal Wal
  • 1935 - Italy entered Abyssinia despite moral condemnation from League
  • Abyssinia leader pleads for help from league
• What was the Hoare Laval Pact (1935)

  • Britain + France meet with Mussolini in secret and agree that he can keep parts of Abyssinia
  • Details were leaked to public, causing outrage
• What were the consequences of the Abyssinian crisis

  • 1936 - Italy left league which left them weaker + less respected
  • Hoare laval embarrassed + undermined league
  • No sanctions given as members wanted to preserve economies
  • Set a precedent for Hitler
• What were the causes of LoN failure 


  • F - French + Britain self interest rather than LoNs
  • A - Absent powers like USA and others could leave
  • I - Ineffective sanctions (didnt use or didnt work)
  • L - Lack of armed forces - LoN didnt have an army
  • U - Unfair treaties
  • R - Reaching decisions too slow making it ineffective
  • E - Economic depression turning countries aggressive / extreme + making others not want to pay costs to help
• When was the disarmament conference and what did it aim to do

  • 1932
  • wanted to reduce offensive weapons for all countries
  • LoN afraid of countries like Italy + Germany getting stronger
• What was the consequence of the disarmament conference

  • Germany wanted everyone to fully disarm like they had (wanted to be an equal) which angered France
  • Hitler began to rearm in secret in 1933 after no one else wanted to disarm