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The League of Nations The United Nations was not the first international organization. AfterWorld War I, forty-two countries formed a similar group, called the League of Nations. The League of Nations had been the idea of American president WoodrowWilson,and its goals were very much like those of the later United Nations.The League wanted to prevent another war and make the world a better place for all people. Unfortunately, the League had a number of problems from its founding in 1919. One problem was that the United States never joined the orga- nization, preferring to focus on national interests, in spite of the fact the idea behind the League of Nations came from an American leader. With one of the major world powers missing, the League never had the power it could have wielded . Another problemwas that so many countries wanted to avoid war at any cost. Although this looked like a good thing, it meant that the countries of the League of Nations, such as the United Kingdom and France, preferred to give in to tyrants rather than enforce economic sanctions against, for example, the growing threat of Nazi Germany. Probably the most serious problem facing the League of Nations was that any decision made by the League Council had to be approved by all the members. Since the Council was made up of nine to fifteen mem- bers—at different times— unanimous decisions were nearly impossible, meaning very little was actually accomplished. World War II began in 1939, and the League of Nations had not been able to prevent it.The member countries knew the League had failed in its purpose, and the League Assembly and Council did not meet at all during the war.The United Nations replaced the League of Nations, carrying over many of the same goals and purposes. The new organization began its first official meetings in January of 1946, and the League of Nations was disbanded in April of the same year.

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Chapter One