The League of Nations was established in 1920 as the... Show more
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Responding to change (a2 only)
Infection and response
Homeostasis and response
Energy transfers (a2 only)
Cell biology
Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (a-level only)
Biological molecules
Organisation
Substance exchange
Bioenergetics
Genetic information & variation
Inheritance, variation and evolution
Genetics & ecosystems (a2 only)
Ecology
Cells
Show all topics
Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
1l the quest for political stability: germany, 1871-1991
The cold war
Inter-war germany
Medieval period: 1066 -1509
2d religious conflict and the church in england, c1529-c1570
2o democracy and nazism: germany, 1918-1945
1f industrialisation and the people: britain, c1783-1885
1c the tudors: england, 1485-1603
2m wars and welfare: britain in transition, 1906-1957
World war two & the holocaust
2n revolution and dictatorship: russia, 1917-1953
2s the making of modern britain, 1951-2007
World war one
Britain: 1509 -1745
Show all topics

1
0
Fareedah
06/12/2025
History
The League of Nations
107
•
6 Dec 2025
•
Fareedah
@fareedah_ola
The League of Nations was established in 1920 as the... Show more











The League of Nations was set up in 1920 with one main goal: stopping wars before they started. Rather than countries sorting out disputes with violence, the League wanted nations to work together through something called collective security.
The League established the Permanent Court of International Justice to create international laws that everyone would follow. The idea was brilliant in theory - if all countries followed the same rules, there'd be far fewer disagreements that could lead to war.
The founders believed that international cooperation was the key to lasting peace. When countries worked together and looked out for each other's interests, everyone would benefit and conflicts could be resolved peacefully.
Quick Tip: Think of the League like a global referee - it was meant to enforce the rules and keep everyone playing fairly!

The League had three main tools to deal with troublemaking countries, and they were meant to work without military force. Economic sanctions were the League's strongest weapon - all member countries would stop trading with any nation that started a war.
Moral condemnation involved publicly shaming countries for bad behaviour. This might sound weak, but in the 1920s, international reputation mattered a lot to world leaders.
The Covenant (the League's rulebook) also focused on aggression mitigation - getting countries to sit down and discuss their problems rather than fight. The idea was that most conflicts could be solved through talking and compromise.
Remember: The League was designed to work through cooperation, not force - which became both its strength and its biggest weakness.

Some of the world's most powerful nations weren't in the League from the start, which seriously weakened it. Germany and Austria were banned because of the harsh Treaty of Versailles - the winners of WWI didn't trust the losers yet.
Russia was kept out because Britain and France feared communism and didn't want to work with a communist government. This left a massive gap in Eastern Europe.
Most importantly, the USA never joined despite President Wilson's support. The American Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, and America adopted isolationism - staying out of European affairs entirely.
Key Point: Without these major powers, the League was like trying to run a school with only half the teachers present!

The League operated from Geneva, Switzerland and had several key parts that each played different roles. The Assembly met once a year and included all member countries - think of it as the League's parliament where everyone got together to discuss big issues.
The Council was like the League's cabinet, meeting more regularly to handle urgent crises. It had four permanent members (Britain, France, Italy, and Japan) plus other rotating members.
Supporting these were the Secretariat (which handled paperwork), the Court of International Justice, and various committees. These committees included the International Labour Organisation and Health Committee, which did important humanitarian work beyond just preventing wars.
Study Tip: Remember that the League was structured like a government, with different branches handling different responsibilities.

The Assembly was the League's most democratic part - every country had an equal vote, regardless of size or power. However, all decisions had to be unanimous, meaning everyone had to agree before anything could happen.
The first meeting was held in a Swiss hotel with 42 nations attending. The Assembly met every year on the first Monday of September to discuss global issues and vote on important matters.
The Assembly controlled key decisions like electing new members, choosing judges for the Permanent Court of International Justice, and deciding how the League spent its money. Russia was eventually allowed to join in 1934, showing the League could adapt over time.
Think About It: Imagine trying to get 42+ countries to agree on anything - that unanimous voting rule was going to cause problems!

The Council was much more powerful than the Assembly because it could act quickly during crises. It had veto power, meaning any permanent member could stop decisions they didn't like - similar to how the UN Security Council works today.
The four permanent members (Britain, France, Italy, and Japan) dominated the Council's decisions. Later, this was increased to include more countries, but the permanent members always held the real power.
This structure meant that the Council could respond to emergencies without waiting for the yearly Assembly meeting. However, it also meant that a few powerful countries controlled most of what the League actually did.
Key Insight: The Council's power structure reflected the reality that some countries were more influential than others, even in an organisation meant to promote equality.

The Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ) was made up of 11 judges and 4 deputy judges who were meant to settle international disputes peacefully. Think of them as the world's supreme court for conflicts between countries.
However, the Court had a major weakness - it could only advise nations rather than force them to follow its decisions. Countries could simply ignore the Court's rulings if they didn't like them.
This limitation made the Court much less effective than it could have been. Without the power to enforce its decisions, even the best legal advice was often worthless when dealing with determined aggressors.
Remember: A court without enforcement power is like a referee without the ability to send players off - countries could just ignore the rules!

The Secretariat handled all the League's administrative work and organised any actions the League wanted to take. It was basically the League's civil service, making sure everything ran smoothly behind the scenes.
Various committees tackled specific global problems beyond just preventing wars. The International Labour Organisation worked to improve working conditions worldwide, while the Health Organisation fought diseases across borders.
Other important committees included the Slavery Commission, Commission for Refugees, and Permanent Central Opium Board. These showed that the League wasn't just about stopping wars - it genuinely tried to make the world a better place through international cooperation.
Interesting Fact: Many of these committees actually succeeded in their work and became the foundation for similar organisations in the UN today!

The Upper Silesia dispute between Germany and Poland showed the League at its best. This industrial region was supposed to go to Poland under the Treaty of Versailles, but most residents were German.
The League organised a plebiscite (public vote) where Germany won 60% support. However, Poland argued that many German voters didn't actually live in Upper Silesia. Rather than pick sides, the League came up with a clever compromise.
Upper Silesia was split - Poland got most of the valuable industrial areas and coal mines, while Germany kept the rural regions. Germany complained about losing 3/4 of the coal mines, so the League gave them the right to import coal at a discount. Both sides accepted this solution.
Success Story: This dispute proved that international mediation could work when both sides were willing to compromise!

Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
App Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Fareedah
@fareedah_ola
The League of Nations was established in 1920 as the world's first attempt at creating a global peacekeeping organisation. It aimed to prevent wars through international cooperation and collective security, though several major powers weren't involved from the start.

Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The League of Nations was set up in 1920 with one main goal: stopping wars before they started. Rather than countries sorting out disputes with violence, the League wanted nations to work together through something called collective security.
The League established the Permanent Court of International Justice to create international laws that everyone would follow. The idea was brilliant in theory - if all countries followed the same rules, there'd be far fewer disagreements that could lead to war.
The founders believed that international cooperation was the key to lasting peace. When countries worked together and looked out for each other's interests, everyone would benefit and conflicts could be resolved peacefully.
Quick Tip: Think of the League like a global referee - it was meant to enforce the rules and keep everyone playing fairly!

Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The League had three main tools to deal with troublemaking countries, and they were meant to work without military force. Economic sanctions were the League's strongest weapon - all member countries would stop trading with any nation that started a war.
Moral condemnation involved publicly shaming countries for bad behaviour. This might sound weak, but in the 1920s, international reputation mattered a lot to world leaders.
The Covenant (the League's rulebook) also focused on aggression mitigation - getting countries to sit down and discuss their problems rather than fight. The idea was that most conflicts could be solved through talking and compromise.
Remember: The League was designed to work through cooperation, not force - which became both its strength and its biggest weakness.

Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Some of the world's most powerful nations weren't in the League from the start, which seriously weakened it. Germany and Austria were banned because of the harsh Treaty of Versailles - the winners of WWI didn't trust the losers yet.
Russia was kept out because Britain and France feared communism and didn't want to work with a communist government. This left a massive gap in Eastern Europe.
Most importantly, the USA never joined despite President Wilson's support. The American Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, and America adopted isolationism - staying out of European affairs entirely.
Key Point: Without these major powers, the League was like trying to run a school with only half the teachers present!

Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The League operated from Geneva, Switzerland and had several key parts that each played different roles. The Assembly met once a year and included all member countries - think of it as the League's parliament where everyone got together to discuss big issues.
The Council was like the League's cabinet, meeting more regularly to handle urgent crises. It had four permanent members (Britain, France, Italy, and Japan) plus other rotating members.
Supporting these were the Secretariat (which handled paperwork), the Court of International Justice, and various committees. These committees included the International Labour Organisation and Health Committee, which did important humanitarian work beyond just preventing wars.
Study Tip: Remember that the League was structured like a government, with different branches handling different responsibilities.

Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Assembly was the League's most democratic part - every country had an equal vote, regardless of size or power. However, all decisions had to be unanimous, meaning everyone had to agree before anything could happen.
The first meeting was held in a Swiss hotel with 42 nations attending. The Assembly met every year on the first Monday of September to discuss global issues and vote on important matters.
The Assembly controlled key decisions like electing new members, choosing judges for the Permanent Court of International Justice, and deciding how the League spent its money. Russia was eventually allowed to join in 1934, showing the League could adapt over time.
Think About It: Imagine trying to get 42+ countries to agree on anything - that unanimous voting rule was going to cause problems!

Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Council was much more powerful than the Assembly because it could act quickly during crises. It had veto power, meaning any permanent member could stop decisions they didn't like - similar to how the UN Security Council works today.
The four permanent members (Britain, France, Italy, and Japan) dominated the Council's decisions. Later, this was increased to include more countries, but the permanent members always held the real power.
This structure meant that the Council could respond to emergencies without waiting for the yearly Assembly meeting. However, it also meant that a few powerful countries controlled most of what the League actually did.
Key Insight: The Council's power structure reflected the reality that some countries were more influential than others, even in an organisation meant to promote equality.

Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ) was made up of 11 judges and 4 deputy judges who were meant to settle international disputes peacefully. Think of them as the world's supreme court for conflicts between countries.
However, the Court had a major weakness - it could only advise nations rather than force them to follow its decisions. Countries could simply ignore the Court's rulings if they didn't like them.
This limitation made the Court much less effective than it could have been. Without the power to enforce its decisions, even the best legal advice was often worthless when dealing with determined aggressors.
Remember: A court without enforcement power is like a referee without the ability to send players off - countries could just ignore the rules!

Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Secretariat handled all the League's administrative work and organised any actions the League wanted to take. It was basically the League's civil service, making sure everything ran smoothly behind the scenes.
Various committees tackled specific global problems beyond just preventing wars. The International Labour Organisation worked to improve working conditions worldwide, while the Health Organisation fought diseases across borders.
Other important committees included the Slavery Commission, Commission for Refugees, and Permanent Central Opium Board. These showed that the League wasn't just about stopping wars - it genuinely tried to make the world a better place through international cooperation.
Interesting Fact: Many of these committees actually succeeded in their work and became the foundation for similar organisations in the UN today!

Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Upper Silesia dispute between Germany and Poland showed the League at its best. This industrial region was supposed to go to Poland under the Treaty of Versailles, but most residents were German.
The League organised a plebiscite (public vote) where Germany won 60% support. However, Poland argued that many German voters didn't actually live in Upper Silesia. Rather than pick sides, the League came up with a clever compromise.
Upper Silesia was split - Poland got most of the valuable industrial areas and coal mines, while Germany kept the rural regions. Germany complained about losing 3/4 of the coal mines, so the League gave them the right to import coal at a discount. Both sides accepted this solution.
Success Story: This dispute proved that international mediation could work when both sides were willing to compromise!

Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
1
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
App Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user