The League of Nations was formed after the devastation of World War 1 during the Paris peace conference with the signing of the treaty of Versailles. Its mission was world peace, but it was a rather toothless organization for upholding the task of world peace and preventing a world war. Its lack of support from the U.S and reliance on other reluctant world powers made its goal an impossible dream. Though it failed in its overall mission the League of Nations set a precedent for humanitarian efforts while solving some territorial disputes. Its failure helped herald the way for the United Nations, who arguably succeeded where the League failed.
The League was the brain child of Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, as part of his fourteen points. Wilson desperately campaigned for its existence and it was formed among the great powers. The League of Nations, however, was highly unpopular with the Republicans in the U.S, who had wanted to keep the U.S out of almost all foreign engagements during this time. Wilson tried to get the U.S to join the league, but was beat out by isolationist views. The Treaty of Versailles was never signed by the U.S and so the league lost it one major support that could have held it up.
Much of the leagues failures come from a combination of factors. Lack of support was the most obvious; very few countries joined the league and most of its mandates were ignored. Even if the League wanted to take action against an aggressor the lack of any armed forces prevented any deterrence. While they could ask members such as Britain or France to provide forces, they were at best reluctant and at worst non-compliant. The leagues concept of collective security was unfeasible because it could have a nation attacking its own interests and after a particularly bad incident at Abyssinia, the Leagues strongest supporters turned to appeasement as a way to prevent wars.
Despite being overshadowed by political failures, the League enjoyed success in settling territorial disputes and helping the poor and sick. Many of the United Nations welfare foundations were based upon some of the same institutions in the league. During a war in turkey that the league failed to stop, they made great progress in their response to the humanitarian crisis caused by it. There were many displaced people within the country, suffering from many maladies, the league sent doctors to stop the spread of disease and helped re-establish homes for the refuges.
In the end the League of Nations was an important first step in the creation of multinational peaceful organizations like the U.N. In its application the mistakes were exposed in under powering an organization dedicated to world peace and some strength were seen in its humanitarian efforts to help the poor, needy, and sick and in handling land disputes. In the end the concept of this organization was maybe just a little ahead of its time and what was need was a more sobering reason not to enter a war.
"League of Nations." History Learning Site. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/leagueofnations.htm>.
"League of Nations." Spartacus Educational. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWleague.htm>.
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