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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.
Chapter One
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