World War I and World War II brought the formation of two organizations: the League
of Nations in 1920 and the United Nations in 1945 respectively.
A.
What were the aims of the League of Nations and the
United Nations?
Study Sources A and B.
Source A
The following shows the aims of the League of Nations.
1.
2.
3.
to deal with disputes among nations;
to prevent war;
to protect the independence of countries and
4.
safeguard their borders;
to encourage each country to reduce its
armaments
Source B
The following shows the main beliefs laid down in the United Nations Charter, 1945.
1.
Oppose war;
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Defend the dignity of all people;
Uphold equal rights for men and women;
Uphold equal rights for all countries;
Respect treaties and international law;
Improve standards of living in the world
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Refer to Sources A and B.
1.
Did the League of Nations and the United Nations have any common aims?
Explain your answer with reference to Sources A and B.
Suggested answer: Both the League of Nations and the United Nations aim to
maintain international peace and security.
Evidence: Source A: To deal with disputes among nations; Source B: Oppose war
2.
Was / Were the aim(s) you identified in (1) the only aim(s) in the League of
Nations and the United Nations? Support your answer with evidence from
Sources A and B.
Suggested answer: No.
Evidence:
Source A: The League of Nations also encouraged countries to reduce armaments.
Source B: The United Nations also has other social and economical aims, like
those stated in point 2 – 6.
B. Why did they fail to maintain peace?
Study Sources A and B.
Source A
The League of Nations was set up in 1920, after the end of First World War. It was
dissolved in 1946. The headquarters of the League of Nations was in Geneva. The
following graph shows its membership.
Country
Admitted
Withdrew (w)
/Expelled (e)
Britain
1920
1946
France
1920
1946
Italy
1920
1937 (w)
Japan
1920
1933 (w)
Germany
1926
1933 (w)
2
USSR
1934
1939 (e)
USA
not a member
not a member
Refer to the following websites for the membership of League of Nations.
<http://rulers.org/intorgs1.html#league>
<http://www.indiana.edu/~league/nationalmember.htm>
Source B
The following Punch cartoon shows one major weakness of the League of Nations.
<http://hsc.csu.edu.au/modern_history/core_study/ww1/
league_of_nations/page150.htm#anchor540272>
President Wilson: “Here’s your olive branch, now get busy.”
Dove of Peace, “Of course I want to please everybody, but isn’t
this a bit too thick!”
Refer to Sources A and B.
1. What was the weakness in the membership of the League of Nations, as reflected
in Source A?
Suggested answer: (a)The powerful nations did not support the work of the League
of Nations concurrently. For example, (i) The US did not join the League of
Nations; (ii )Germany was not admitted into the League of Nations until 1926; (iii)
The USSR did not join the League of Nations until 1934.
(b) Members could walk out the League of Nations whenever they wanted to.
(Students should give evidence from Source A)
2.
Do you think the cartoonist of Source B was pleased with or disapproved of the
League of Nations? Give evidence from Source B to support your answer.
3
Suggested answer: the cartoonist disapproved of the League of Nations.
Evidence:
In the cartoon, the League of Nations was giving the Dove of peace an
over-weighted Olive Branch. This indicated that the League of Nations was too
idealistic.
Study Sources C and D.
Source C
The following shows some differences between the League of Nations and the United
Nations.
League of Nations
United Nations
League of
Nations
Every important
nation is a member
Many important countries,
including USA, did not join
League of
Nations
There is no provision for a
member to leave the UN though
members may be expelled
A number of nations walked
out when they did not agree
League of
Nations
The League had no armed
force to stop war.
Members provide soldiers for
special tasks.
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Source D
The following describes the weakness of the United Nations.
It could only ask members to take action to keep
peace. All the Allies agreed to join and later on so did
the defeated countries. However, the governments
were not likely to give up national power by letting the
United Nations have much power of its own.
Refer to Sources C and D.
3. What are the similarities/differences in the membership between the League of
Nations and the United Nations? Support your answer with evidence from Source
C.
Suggested answer: (i) In United Nations, every important nation is a member. On
the other hand, many important counties did not support the League of Nations
concurrently.
(ii) There is no provision for a member to leave the United Nations. On the other
hand, nations could walk out the League of Nations whenever they wanted to.
4.
What are the strengths and limitations of the United Nations’ effort in
maintaining peace?
Suggested answer:
Strengths: Source C shows that members of the United Nations would provide
soldiers for special tasks.
Limitations: Source D reflects the case that nations would not support the
work of the United Nations wholeheartedly. The governments were not likely to
give up national power by letting the United Nations have much power of its own.
5
For the membership, organization and peace keeping tasks of the United Nations,
students may refer to the following websites:
The official homepage of the United Nations <http://www.un.org/>
The member states of the UN <http://www.un.org/members/>
The main bodies of the UN <http://www.un.org/aboutun/mainbodies.htm>
The peace keeping operations of the UN <http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/>
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