Wilson and the League of Nations' Legacy

1. In what ways was the League successful after World War I? Unsuccessful?  
             The League of Nations had its share of success and failure. The League was successful in peacefully resolving a conflict between Sweden and Finland over a group of islands, helping Turkey when Turkey experienced a humanitarian crisis, and settling a border dispute between Greece and Bulgaria.  The League also helped with social issues such as child slave labor, smuggling, and drug addiction. Organizations such as the Untied Nations High Commission for Refugees and  the International Labor Association stemmed from the League of Nations. Although the League had many successes, the League also had a number of failures.For example when Italy seized a Yogusalvian port, the League was unable to stop war from breaking out. Most of the wars failures were due to the fact that the League had no military of it's own, and because the League was virtually powerless the League's members often broke the terms of the League. 






2. Many historians suggest that the terms of the Versailles Treaty were a major cause of World War II. Support that argument.    
               World War II started as a result of the terms of the Versailles Treaty. The terms of the Versailles Treaty was particular harsh on Germans. The Germans were forced to pay $33 million of war reparations, only allowed to keep a small military,  some of their land was taken away, and Germans were forced to take all of the blame for starting World War I.  As a result the Germans were embittered, starving, and eager to regain their lost land, and respect. The German's dangerous combination of emotions combined with their need of a leader provided a perfect opportunity for Hitler to take control and Begin World War II. 




3. Some historians characterize U.S. policy during the interwar period as isolationist. What actions, described in the reading, could be called isolationist?   
                    The U.S policy during the interwar period could be called isolationist. The U.S refused to become a member of the League of Nations, an organization that may have dragged the U.S into European conflicts. Also, the U.S made it's own treaty with the central powers instead of simply signing the Treaty of Versailles. The U.S purposely stood apart from European countries during the interwar period.   





4. How was U.S. foreign policy different in the Cold War from the interwar period?     
                   The U.s foreign policy changed from the interwar period to the Cold War. In the interwar period the U.S preferred to be isolationist, for example the U.S refused to be a member of an international organization committed to peacefully resolving conflicts between countries. However in the Cold War the U.S demonstrated that it's old policies had changed to be more multilateral and joined an international organization committed to peacefully resolving conflicts between countries.





5. What is "Wilsonian" thought? Why do some support it and some oppose it?    
                 "Wilsonian" thought consists of the concepts of multilateralism and collective security. Some support these thoughts because they think that new technology has made the policy of isolation no longer an option for countries.  Others oppose "Wilsonian" thought because they believe that conflicts between countries cannot be solved peacefully and that "Wilsonian" thought endangers U.S security by preventing the U.S from acting on it's own to protect it's citizens.