Materials

• Textbook and other printed resources
• Information on the League of Nations
• Video on the League of Nations
• Student activity/guide for the video (one copy for each student)
• World map of the Interwar Period

Instructional Activities

1. Explain the purposes of the League of Nations to the students, making sure to include the following:
   • To prevent future wars
   • To administer the colonies of the defeated countries through the mandate system.
   
   Divide the students into groups. Instruct them to use their textbooks or other resources to determine the reasons for the failure of the League of Nations. At the end of the period, have students write these reasons down without using notes and walk around the room to compare their lists with those of other groups.
   
   
2. Discuss with the students the reasons for the failure of the League of Nations. Include the following information:
   • The League was an international cooperative organization.
   • The United States was not a member.
   • The League did not have the power to enforce its decisions.
   • Major divisions existed among countries after World War I.
   • Deep isolationism existed after WWI among the democracies.
   
   
3. Instruct students to suggest why the United States did not join the League of Nations. Responses may include the following:
   • America did not sign the Treaty of Versailles ending the war.
   • Feelings of deep isolationism were pervasive in America.
   • Political feuding was taking place between President Wilson and Senate Majority Leader Lodge.
   
   
4. Show the selected video on the League of Nations. Use an activity to guide students as they view the video.
   
   
5. Explain that the League of Nations created the mandate system. Mandates were former colonies of defeated nations such as Iraq, Egypt. These former colonies were to be governed on a temporary basis until they were able to stand on their own but the policy became controversial as the administration of these lands became extended. Britain and France administrated most of those in the Middle East, establishing their foothold there.
   
   
6. Examine a map of this time period, and point out areas as they are discussed. (NOTE: Maps can be downloaded from the Internet.)