League of Nations

The League of Nations was an international organization created after World War I. It officially began in 1920. An international organization is a group made up of different countries working together. The League was designed to help maintain peace and prevent another large war like World War I.

The idea for the League of Nations was discussed at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. One of its main supporters was Woodrow Wilson, the President of the United States. The League was included as part of the Treaty of Versailles. Although the United States helped plan the League, it did not join it because the U.S. Senate did not approve membership.

The League of Nations was based in Geneva, Switzerland. Member countries met there to talk about problems between nations. The League could discuss disputes, suggest solutions, and encourage negotiation. Negotiation means trying to reach an agreement by discussion. The League did not have its own army, so it relied on member countries to follow its decisions.

Many countries joined the League during the 1920s. These included Britain, France, Italy, and Japan. Germany joined later, in 1926. The League worked on several issues, such as borders between countries and the treatment of minorities, which are smaller groups within a population. It also helped with humanitarian work, including aid for refugees.

Despite these efforts, the League of Nations faced serious problems. Some major countries did not join or later left the League. The League also struggled when countries ignored its decisions. In the 1930s, several conflicts occurred that the League could not stop. These events showed the limits of the organization’s power.

The League of Nations officially ended in 1946. After World War II, a new organization called the United Nations was created. The United Nations took over many ideas and tasks of the League, but with a stronger structure. The League of Nations remains an important part of early international cooperation history.