The League of Nations and World War I: Causes and Conflicts
League of Nations: a) Objectives: Ensure international peace and security through the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts, promote general and disarmament, and foster international relations. b) Functioning: Geneva (Switzerland). Bodies: Assembly: Composed of representatives from all member states. Council: A permanent body formed by major powers’ representatives. Secretariat: Presided by the Secretary-General. Associated organizations: Permanent International Court of Justice, and another associated organization: International Labour Organization (ILO). Achievements: 1- Multilateral institutionalization of diplomacy. 2- Creation of a forum for discussion between member states. 3- Promotion of cooperation between countries. 4- Establishment of a system to silently tutor already minor empires colonies. 5- Resolution of minor conflicts. 6- Constitution of institutions that continued with the UN: ILO, International Court of Justice, the High Commissioner for Refugees.
Definitions: Armed Peace: Period prior to World War I in which the powers were arming themselves. Bertha: A cannon with a long range. Armistice: A capitulation, ensuring an agreement has already set the surrender. Boxers: Ultranationalist xenophobic Chinese group. Boer: Calvinist farmers of Dutch origin. Sepoys: Natives of India instructed by the English and were part of the English army. Protectorate: A state that existed as sovereign. The metropolis respected the indigenous government and administration, but had military control, holding direction of foreign and economic policy. Example: Morocco. Areas: Characteristics of the British Empire in colonies where the population had full internal political autonomy, but foreign policy was controlled by the metropolis. Example: Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.
World War I (1914-1918): Remote Causes: Territorial Rivalries: Alsace and Lorraine between Germany and France (Germany wanted Alsace, France wanted Lorraine), and Trentino and Istria, Italy claimed by Austria. Macedonia between Serbia and Bulgaria. Nationalism: The great powers and small states sought independence and to enlarge their territories. This provoked great tensions in European territories. Economic Rivalry: Between Great Britain and Germany. Germany competed with Great Britain, the first economic power, and engaged in political and naval constructions, which threatened British control of the seas. As a consequence of these rivalries, two blocs appeared: – “Triple Entente”: Composed of France, Britain, and Russia. – “Triple Alliance” composed of Germany, Austria, and Hungary. The arms race began. Conflicts: The Balkans: Occupied by the Turks, Russia wanted to control the Black Sea to communicate with the Mediterranean Sea, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire wanted to continue expanding its territories. 1st Balkan War: Between the Turks and the Balkan League, composed of Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Montenegro. Turkey was defeated. 2nd Balkan War: Between Bulgaria, which attacked Greece, and Serbia, Romania, Albania, and Turkey supported. Bulgaria was defeated.
June 28, 1914: The Sarajevo assassination. July 23: Ultimatum from Austria-Hungary to Serbia. August 1: Declaration of war from Austria-Hungary to Serbia, Russia mobilized its troops to the Balkans, Germany declared war on Russia and France. September 4: German troops invaded Belgium. September 5: Great Britain declared war on Germany.