League of Nations

• Created as part of the post war treaties and was meant to enforce the terms of those treaties
• All countries joining the League had to sign the Covenant of the League of Nations that involved a promise to protect other member nations. The league had to provide collective security- that each member would feel protected
• The headquarters was in Geneva, Switzerland
• Most people in Europe supported the creation of the League in principle as they didn't want another war
• Despite it being Woodrow Wilson's idea for the League to be set up, America never joined. When he took the idea to Congress, they voted against joining as they didn't want to be involved in European disputes anymore.
• The USA not joining the League of Nations was a problem. America were the biggest, most powerful and wealthiest country in the world so by them not joining, some countries weren't as intimidated or scared of the League.
• The League started with 42 members which were all countries that had fought /supported the allies
• Originally, defeated countries weren't to join the League but Germany were admitted in 1926
• The USSR were only admitted in 1934 because people were so scared of communism
• The League had 3 main powers- Moral condemnation (telling the aggressor country to stop what they're doing), Economic sanctions (blocking trade with the aggressor country) and Military intervention (if the aggressor country didn't stop)