Why League of Nations Failed | The Outbreak of World War 2 | Flashback with Palki Sharma
Summary
TLDRThe video script delves into the history of the League of Nations, an international organization established post-World War I to prevent future conflicts. Spearheaded by President Woodrow Wilson, the idea was to create a global platform for discussion and dispute resolution. Despite initial success, such as the Geneva Protocol banning chemical and biological weapons, the League struggled with the absence of the United States and faced defiance from authoritarian leaders like Hitler and Mussolini. Ultimately, its inability to enforce decisions led to its downfall and the rise of World War II. The script concludes with the establishment of the United Nations as a more powerful successor, suggesting that while the UN has lasted longer, it too faces similar challenges and could benefit from reforms.
Takeaways
- 🕊️ The League of Nations was an international organization proposed by Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, with the aim of preventing future wars and providing a platform for global discussion.
- 🏛️ Established after World War I, the League of Nations was created through the Treaty of Versailles, but the U.S. Congress did not ratify the treaty, leading to the U.S. not joining the organization.
- 🌍 The League had 41 member countries at its first session in Geneva in 1920, with a structure similar to the later United Nations, including an Assembly, a Council, an International Tribunal, and a Permanent Secretariat.
- 🚫 One of the League's achievements was the Geneva Protocol in 1928, which banned the use of chemical and biological weapons.
- 📉 The League faced challenges as authoritarian leaders like Adolf Hitler rose to power, leading to member countries like Japan and Germany withdrawing due to objections from the League.
- 🛑 Italy's invasion of Ethiopia was met with sanctions from the League, but this was not enough to prevent the country from leaving the organization in 1937.
- 💥 The League's inability to prevent the aggression of World War II member states, such as Germany's invasion of Denmark, highlighted its failure to maintain peace and security.
- 📚 After World War II, the victorious allies decided to dissolve the League of Nations and replace it with a new organization, the United Nations, in September 1945.
- 🔄 The League's failure can be attributed to multiple factors, including the absence of the U.S., internal disagreements, and the inability to enforce its decisions on member states.
- 🔄 The script suggests that the United Nations, while having outlived the League, still faces similar challenges and could benefit from reforms, such as more democratic practices and the sharing of power among member states.
Q & A
What was the context of the world in 1919 when the idea of the League of Nations was proposed?
-In 1919, the world was in a dire state following the end of World War I. Around 20 million people had died, the economy was in shambles, and cities were barely standing. The situation was looking hopeless, and yet life had to go on.
Who was the key figure behind the proposal of the League of Nations?
-Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, was the key figure behind the proposal of the League of Nations. He suggested the creation of a single global organization where countries could come together to discuss policies and resolve disputes.
What was the Treaty of Versailles and how does it relate to the League of Nations?
-The Treaty of Versailles was the peace treaty signed by the Allies at the end of World War I. It included the establishment of the League of Nations as a means to prevent future wars and promote international cooperation.
Why did the United States not join the League of Nations?
-The United States did not join the League of Nations because the U.S. Congress refused to approve the Treaty of Versailles, which included the establishment of the League. This was a significant setback for the organization.
What were the main functions of the League of Nations?
-The League of Nations functioned with four main organs: an assembly of member countries, a council of permanent members, an international tribunal, and a permanent Secretariat. Its primary goal was to promote international cooperation and maintain peace.
What was one of the significant achievements of the League of Nations in the 1920s?
-One of the significant achievements of the League of Nations in the 1920s was the Geneva Protocol, which banned the use of chemical and biological weapons in 1928.
Which countries' actions led to the downfall of the League of Nations?
-The downfall of the League of Nations began with Japan's invasion of Manchuria and its subsequent withdrawal from the League. This was followed by Germany under Hitler's leadership, which also withdrew after the League objected to its rearmament.
What was the final straw that led to Italy leaving the League of Nations?
-The final straw for Italy was its invasion of Ethiopia. Despite the League's objections and the imposition of sanctions by 51 nations, Italy decided to leave the League in 1937.
What was the ultimate fate of the League of Nations?
-The League of Nations ultimately failed in its mission to prevent war. After World War II, the victorious Allies decided to dissolve the League and establish a new organization, the United Nations, in its place.
What were some of the reasons for the failure of the League of Nations?
-The League of Nations failed for several reasons, including the absence of the United States as a member, the inability to create a consensus among member nations, and the departure of key countries like Germany, Japan, and Italy when their interests were not aligned with the League's objectives.
What lessons can be drawn from the failure of the League of Nations for the United Nations?
-The failure of the League of Nations highlights the need for a more inclusive and democratic approach to international relations. It suggests that power should not be concentrated in the hands of a few permanent members and that collective security requires shared responsibility and power.
Outlines
🕍 The League of Nations: A Failed Attempt at Global Peace
This paragraph introduces the historical context of post-World War I and the establishment of the League of Nations. It discusses the aftermath of the war, the dire state of the world, and the efforts of Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, to propose a global organization aimed at preventing future conflicts. The League of Nations was established through the Treaty of Versailles, but the U.S. Congress's refusal to approve the treaty led to the U.S. not joining the League. Despite this setback, the League began its sessions in Geneva with 41 members, including colonial territories. The League's structure was similar to the later United Nations, with an assembly, council, tribunal, and secretariat. The 1920s saw the League's first significant achievement with the Geneva Protocol, which banned chemical and biological weapons. However, the rise of authoritarian leaders like Adolf Hitler led to the League's decline, starting with Japan's invasion of Manchuria and subsequent withdrawal from the League, followed by Germany and Italy's departures.
💥 The Collapse of the League and the Birth of the United Nations
This paragraph details the failure of the League of Nations in preventing the aggressions that led to World War II. It highlights the League's inability to enforce its decisions, as seen when Japan, Germany, and Italy ignored its objections and left the organization. The League's ineffectiveness was further exposed when it failed to prevent the invasions of Denmark, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands by Nazi Germany. The paragraph describes the League as a powerless entity, unable to act during the war years, leading to its eventual dissolution in 1945. The victorious Allies, after World War II, decided not to revive the League but to create a new organization, the United Nations, to address global issues. The reasons for the League's failure are explored, including the absence of the United States, the inability to create consensus, and the departure of key members with their own agendas. The paragraph concludes with a call for reforms in the United Nations to prevent a similar fate, suggesting a more democratic and shared approach to global security.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡League of Nations
💡Woodrow Wilson
💡Treaty of Versailles
💡Colonialism
💡Geneva Protocol
💡Adolf Hitler
💡Benito Mussolini
💡Collective Security
💡United Nations
💡World War II
Highlights
[Music] Introduction to the post-World War I scenario and the establishment of the League of Nations.
Woodrow Wilson's radical idea for a global organization to prevent future wars.
The Treaty of Versailles and the creation of the League of Nations without U.S. involvement.
The League's first session in Geneva with 41 members, including colonial territories.
The League's structure, including an assembly, council, tribunal, and Secretariat.
The Geneva Protocol of 1928 banning chemical and biological weapons.
The rise of authoritarian leaders and the League's inability to prevent aggression.
Japan's invasion of Manchuria and the League's condemnation.
Hitler's Germany re-arming and the League's ineffective response.
Italy's invasion of Ethiopia and the League's sanctions.
The League's failure to prevent World War II and its dissolution.
The end of the League and the creation of the United Nations in 1945.
Reflection on the League's failure due to lack of U.S. participation and internal dissent.
Comparison between the League of Nations and the United Nations, and the need for reform.
The suggestion for more democracy and shared power in collective security.
[Music] Conclusion and the legacy of the League of Nations.
Transcripts
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[Music]
for a flashback it's 1919 really bad
times for the world around 20 million
people are dead from the first world war
the economy is bad cities are barely
standing it's looking pretty much
hopeless but life must go on the Allies
had won the first World War that's
America Britain France Russia and Italy
their leaders met up in Paris their job
draw up a peace deal make sure there are
no more wars in the future simple right
well those leaders did give it a shot
especially this man Woodrow Wilson he
was the 28th president of the United
States he proposed a radical idea in
Paris
what if all countries came together to
create a single Global organization
somewhere to talk somewhere to discuss
policies and most importantly somewhere
to complain
I know what you're thinking isn't that
what the United Nations does well yes
but this story is about the organization
that preceded the UN this story is about
the League of Nations
let's catch up with our friends in Paris
most of them agreed to Woodrow Wilson's
idea no war seemed like a good plan so
they signed what is called the Treaty of
Versailles and set up the league
president Wilson was a happy man he
returned home eager to get cracking with
his new toy
just one problem though the U.S Congress
wouldn't let him they refused to approve
the Treaty of Versailles talk about an M
Night Shyamalan twist the league went
ahead without the United States you have
to feel for President Wilson though it's
like that friend who plans the trip to
Goa but his own family says don't go
back to the 20th century again the
League's first session was in November
1920 in Geneva 41 members attended it
India had a membership but India was
still a British colony there
same with most of Africa and it was a
very important contradiction in the
league war was not okay
but colonialism was the league
functioned with four organs an assembly
of member countries a council of
permanent members an international
tribunal and a permanent Secretariat
a lot like the United Nations actually
just the other way around
the 1920s went by without much fuss most
countries were trying to figure out what
the league was how they could use it in
this time one achievement stands out the
Geneva protocol the league banned the
use of chemical and biological weapons
in the year 1928 and it was a big deal
then
the honeymoon period did not last soon a
new crop of leaders emerged more
authoritarian more ruthless and more
belligerent the worst among them this
man Adolf Hitler the League's downfall
began in 1933 two members decided to
quit the group first was Japan Japan
invaded Northeast China which was then
called Manchuria
52 Nations assembled at Geneva have
joined in condemning the horrors
perpetrated by Japan in their war
against China in the bombing of open
towns by Japanese aircraft thousands of
innocent civilians have lost their lives
here the speech of Dr Wellington coo
Chinese delegate to the League of
Nations we'll nullify all the past work
and president effort to organize peace
and the security and through the entire
world into the pandemonium of a general
conflagration with all its horrors of
killing and destruction when the league
objected Japan left that was strike one
strike two was Hitler he had enough of
pacificism
he wanted to re-arm Germany when the
league objected Hitler pulled out strike
two strike three came much later in the
form of Italy its ruler was Hitler's
dictator in arms Benito Mussolini when
Mussolini invaded Ethiopia the league
objected
but in Geneva the League of Nations
assembly decided by an overwhelming
majority in favor of sanctions against
Italy despite fostile appeals by Barona
luisi 51 Nations agreed to bring
economic and financial pressure to bear
on Italy as aggressor in the war in
Africa the league has two main tops
first
War father just can't peaceful
settlement of all disputes you can guess
what happened next Italy quit the year
was 1937. within two years the second
world war broke out and that was
curtains for the league it had one job
to do and it failed one by one its
members were invaded by Hitler's Army
these are the authentic pictures of the
latest Act of criminal aggression by the
German Nation invasion of Denmark
ten months ago Germany offered its
northern neighbor a pact of
non-aggression to last 10 years
living up to its well-known tradition of
broken Faith the reichsten troops by
Landon sea to complete the conquest of
this unoffending neutral in one day this
nation lost its identity in Europe and
became part of Germany but Denmark
decided that surrender was better than
slaughter
Denmark gone Luxembourg gone France
Belgium Norway gone so was the
Netherlands German forces were already
on their way to compete yet one more Act
of aggression against weakened innocent
neutral
it was obviously impossible that an
elaborate Invasion carried out by Landon
sea forces at several points could have
been planned and executed in a few hours
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the league was like an old man confined
to his bed he had the wisdom to help
what he did not have was the power
we can really skim over the next six
years until 1945. that's because the
league did absolutely nothing in this
time virtually zero meetings
it was just dying day by day
cut to September 1945 the war ended it
was a 1919 Deja Vu the Victorious allies
met again they had two options a revived
the old man aka the League of Nations or
B pull the plug the Allies chose option
b they decided the League's time was up
instead they opted to create a new
organization called the United Nations
the story of the League of Nations comes
to an end when at the palace of Geneva
the delegates of Many Lands meet for the
last time
assembled in the Great Hall the members
carry out the final business of the
league which now gives place to a more
powerful organization
among the delegates is Lord Sissel a
champion of Peace since 1920. his words
at this last session of Geneva will be
echoed by the whole world the league is
dead long live the United Nations
looking back why did the league fail
I wish I could give you a single answer
but the fact is it's more complicated
for starters the United States never
joined it
remember the Goa trip example I gave you
if the guy who planned the trip never
made it what will the rest do they have
no itinerary no sense of where to go and
what to do secondly some people in the
group had their own plans perhaps a
different destination or a different
mode of travel
when those plans did not fit in they
just left on a different trip in this
case Germany Japan and Italy so that's
why the league failed it could not
create a consensus or Force obedience
sounds a lot like the U.N doesn't it and
you're not wrong on paper the United
Nations has outlived the League of
Nations also there hasn't been a third
world war quite low standards I know
but the world is still the Wild West
bigger power still invade smaller States
like the US and Iraq or Russia and
Ukraine Rogue neighbors still sabotage
peaceful ones the United Nations has not
been able to solve those problems but a
good start would be reforms more
democracy never hurt anyone if the idea
is collective security then don't limit
powers in the hands of five permanent
members share powers
share responsibility
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