The League of Nations and the Great Depression

What was the effect of the Great Depression on the League of Nations?

The Great Depression affected attitudes towards international relations, peace, aggression, and the League of Nations.

How did the Great Depression affect attitudes towards sanctions by the League of Nations?

Members of the League were not keen to impose economic sanctions because they were worried about losing trade.

How did the Great Depression lead to the rise of extremism?

The poverty and unemployment in nations created by the Great Depression led to support for political parties that promised extreme solutions. A key example is the Nazi party in Germany.

How did the Great Depression lead to the rise of militarism?

Nations became more likely to use military force to protect their economies and trade. For example, the Japanese army began to behave more aggressively in 1931.

How did the Great Depression lead attitudes towards territory?

Nations wanted to find new resources and markets to boost their economies. This meant they were more likely to try and take land belonging to other countries.

How did the Great Depression affect attitudes towards armament?

The League was committed to disarmament, but also relied on member armies to help carry out its work. The Great Depression affected armament in 2 ways:

• ❖ Governments were under pressure to cut spending on armies and weapons. The League's members didn't have the military power to deal with aggressors.
• ❖ As a result of the Great Depression, many governments, such as Germany's, turned to rearmament as a way of offering more stability and jobs in a time of crisis.