History Lab: Should the United States Have Joined The League of Nations?

Background:

As World War I drew to a close, Woodrow Wilson set forth his plan for a "JUST PEACE." Wilson believed that fundamental flaws in international relations created an unhealthy climate that led inexorably to the World War.

HisFOURTEEN POINTSoutlined his vision for a safer world. Wilson called for an end to secret diplomacy, a reduction of armaments, and freedom of the seas. He claimed that reductions to trade barriers, fair adjustment of colonies, and respect for national self-determination would reduce economic and nationalist sentiments that lead to war.

Finally, Wilson proposed an international organization comprising representatives of all the world's nations that would serve as a forum against allowing any conflict to escalate. Unfortunately, Wilson could not impose his world view on the victorious Allied Powers. When they met in Paris to hammer out the terms of the peace, the European leaders had other ideas.

Source 1: The League of Nations: A Pictorial Summary,Geneva: League of Nations, c. 1920. (Courtesy of the Woodrow Wilson House)

Source 2: Woodrow Wilson, speech in Pueblo Colorado, September 25, 1919. When President Wilson returned to the United States in 1919 after the Paris Peace Conference, he toured the country to raise support for the treaty and the League of Nations (the source has been modified)

“My fellow citizens, as I have crossed the continent, I have perceived more and more that men have been busy creating an absolutely false impression of the treaty of peace and the Covenant of the League of Nations.

Reflect, my fellow citizens that the membership of this great League is going to include all the great fighting nations of the world, as well as the weak ones.

And what do they unite for? They enter into a solemn promise to one another that they will never use their power against one another for aggression; that they never will violate the territorial integrity of a neighbor; that they never will interfere with the political independence of a neighbor; that they will abide by the principle that great populations are entitled to determine their own destiny; and that no matter what differences arise between them they will never resort to war without first submitting their differences to the consideration of the council of the League of Nations, and agreeing that at the end of the six months, even if they do not accept the advice of the council, they will still not go to war for another three months.

I wish that those who oppose this settlement could feel the moral obligation that rests upon us not to turn our backs on the boys who died, but to see the thing through, to see it through to the end and make good their redemption of the world. For nothing less depends upon this decision, nothing less than liberation and salvation of the world.”

Source 3: Henry Cabot Lodge, speech, August 12, 1919. Washington, D.C. Republican Henry Cabot Lodge was a staunch opponent of the Democrat President Woodrow Wilson.

“Mr. President: I can never be anything else but an American, and I must think of the United States first.

I have never had but one allegiance - I cannot divide it now. I have loved but one flag and I cannot share that devotion and give affection to the mongrel banner invented for a league. Internationalism is to me repulsive.

The United States is the world's best hope, but if you fetter her in the interests and quarrels of other nations, if you tangle her in the intrigues of Europe, you will destroy her power for good and endanger her very existence. Leave her to march freely through the centuries to come as in the years that have gone.

No doubt many excellent and patriotic people see a coming fulfillment of noble ideals in the words 'league for peace.' We all respect and share these aspirations and desires, but some of us see no hope, but rather defeat, for them in this murky plan. For we, too, have our ideals, even if we differ from those who have tried to establish a monopoly of idealism.

Our first ideal is our country. Our ideal is to make her ever stronger and better and finer, because in that way alone can she be of the greatest service to the world's peace and to the welfare of mankind.”

Source 4: The League of Nations: A Pictorial Summary,Geneva: League of Nations, c. 1920. (Courtesy of the Woodrow Wilson House)

The High Contracting Parties,
In order to promote international co-operation and to achieve international peace and security:
By the acceptance of obligations not to resort to war;
By the prescription of open, just and honourable relations between nations;
By the firm establishment of the understandings of international law as the actual rule of conduct among Governments; and
By the maintenance of justice and a scrupulous respect for all treaty obligations in the dealings of organised peoples with one another:
Agree to the Covenant of the League of Nations
STATES MEMBERS

Any fully self-governing State, Dominion or Colony may become a Member of the League on a two-thirds vote of the Assembly.
THE FIFTY-FOUR MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE:
Abyssinia
Albania
Argentine
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bolivia
British Empire
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile / China
Colombia
Cuba
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Esthonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece / Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
India
Irish Free State
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Liberia
Lithuania / Luxemburg
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Panama
Paraguay
Persia
Peru
Poland
Portugal / Roumania
Salvador
Kingdom of the Serbs,
Croats and Slovenes
Siam
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Uruguay
Venezuela
NON-MEMBERS:
Afghanistan
Brazil* / Costa Rica**
Ecuador / Egypt
Hedjaz / Mexico
U.S.S.R. / Turkey
United States of America
*Withdrew from the League on June 12th, 1928.
**Withdrew from the League on January 1st, 1927.

Document Source Analysis Sheet

Source or Text / Who created this piece, when was it created, and what point was the creator trying to get readers to understand? / What was implied by the creator and what information may have been left out or not considered? / Support or Challenge the traditional story of Thanksgiving
Source 1:
Origin of the League of Nations Print
Source 2:
Woodrow Wilson, speech in Pueblo Colorado
Source 3:
Henry Cabot Lodge, speech
Source 4:
The League of Nations Participant Map