League of Nations & Into the 1920s

1. League of Nations & Into the 1920s

2. Essential Question • Why was it strange that the United States did not join the League of Nations when it was created?

3. The League of Nations • During peace talks President Wilson made adjustments to the 14 Points – Realized peace treaties alone would not create “just peace” • Group, including Wilson, wrote Covenant of League of Nation • Approved by Conference, & including in Versailles treaty

4. The League of Nations - Organization • 2 Main Aims • Promote cooperation • Keep peace among nations • 3 Main Agencies • An assembly • A council • A secretariat • The League was to work closely with the World Court

5. The League of Nations - Organization • The Assembly • Representatives from all member nations • Each nation allowed 1 vote • The Council • Main peacekeeping body • Originally 9 member nations, later increased to 14 • 5 Permanent Members – England, France, Italy, Japan, U.S. • Remaining seats filled by rotating nations

6. The League of Nations - Organization • Member nations agreed to submit disputes to World Court instead of going to war • Punishment for breaking agreement • Breaking diplomatic relations • Imposing of economic sanctions

7. The League of Nations - Mandates • Provided way to deal with overseas colonies of Central Powers • The League was responsible for colony until it was “ready for independence” • The League then set the colony up as a mandate

8. The Start of The League • The U.S. did not join even though Wilson helped promote the League • Wary of League’s power • Wanted to change Treaty of Versailles • Feared another war over issues that did not concern them • First Meeting – Geneva, Switzerland – 11/1920 • 42 nations attended • Germany & Soviet Union later joined

9. Post-WWI Era - Science • Global Epidemic • 1918 – Influenza Pandemic • Spread quickly due to rapid movement of people during global war • Killed victims in 2 to 3 days • Just as mysteriously as disease appeared it disappeared • Approximately 20,000,000 deaths

10. Post-WWI Era - Science • Scientific & Social Theories • Many began to think of the world as frightening & unpredictable • Looked to Sigmund Freud, founder of psychology, to ease uncertainty • Claimed unconscious often controlled peoples’ actions • Helped people understand destruction of WWI & uneasiness

11. Post-WWI Era - Literature • Major writings showed dissatisfaction with traditional ideas • Oswald Spengler’s Decline of the West said civilizations matured from youth until death • Lost Generation – Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald – Writings reflected loss of morality • Others experimented with new forms & motivation of unconscious

12. Post-WWI Era - Music • Composers such as Stravinsky & Schoenberg attempted pieces vastly different from those of the past • Radios were more common – Music became aimed at mass audiences • Gave birth to new forms of music, like Jazz

13. Post-WWI Era - Painting • Picasso & Braque created a new style called cubism – used geometric designs • Cubist painters showed objects from many viewpoints at once • Many artists focused on unconscious & insanity of war

14. Post-WWI Era - Architecture • Steel lead to creation of functional buildings that were built for specific purposes as opposed to styles • Sullivan & Wright began this idea, & impacted architecture world wide

15. Entertainment • Main form – Motion Pictures • Millions flocked to theaters • Offered escape from everyday life • 1927 film The Jazz Singer introduced sound • Sports also became a popular leisure activity

16. Consumer Culture • Economies improved & people spent more on consumer goods – Non-essential products • Price of “luxury items” dropped, which made goods more available for purchase • Radio advertisements & credit helped increase consumerism • Instant gratification reflected a change in attitudes of the time