What was the League of Nations and why did the U.S. not want to join?
The correct answer and explanation is:
The League of Nations was an international organization founded after World War I, established by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Its primary goal was to maintain world peace by promoting diplomacy, collective security, and cooperation between countries. The League aimed to prevent future conflicts by providing a forum for resolving disputes and enforcing international law. It also worked on issues like disarmament, economic cooperation, and humanitarian efforts. The League’s creation was largely driven by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, who believed in the idea of collective security and international cooperation as a way to avoid future wars.
However, the United States did not join the League of Nations, despite President Wilson’s strong advocacy. The main reason for this decision was domestic opposition, particularly from the U.S. Senate. A key concern was the potential loss of U.S. sovereignty. Many Senators, particularly those in the Republican Party, feared that joining the League would entangle the U.S. in international conflicts and obligate it to intervene in wars that did not directly concern American interests. This sentiment was captured in the argument that the U.S. should avoid “foreign entanglements.”
Additionally, some politicians were opposed to Wilson’s vision of the League because they saw it as an infringement on American independence in foreign policy. They were worried that the League’s collective security system could force the U.S. to take military action in defense of other nations, which would limit the country’s ability to act independently. Despite Wilson’s vigorous campaigning, the Senate voted against ratifying the Treaty of Versailles, and the U.S. never became a member of the League of Nations. This absence weakened the League’s influence and contributed to its inability to prevent the rise of aggression that eventually led to World War II.