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The Collapse of the League

How the League of Nations fell apart in the 1930s: the effects of the Depression, the Manchurian and Abyssinian crises, and the weaknesses that left it unable to keep the peace.

⏱️ 16 min 🎯 14 activities
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What you'll cover

The League falls apart

In the 1920s the League of Nations settled several disputes, but in the 1930s it faced far bigger tests and failed them. A worldwide economic slump, and two major invasions by powerful countries, showed that the League could not keep the peace. This module works through why the League collapsed.

Collapse vocabulary

Learn these four terms before you study the crises.

Two crises

Two invasions in the 1930s broke the League.

Why it could not act

A top answer explains the collapse through the weaknesses of the League. It had no army of its own, so it could not force a great power to stop. The United States never joined, which left it weaker. Decisions were slow, and after the Depression each country looked after itself. Use Manchuria and Abyssinia as evidence for these weaknesses.

Match the event

  • the Depression
  • the Manchurian crisis
  • the Abyssinian crisis
  • sanctions
  • the economic slump that made countries look after themselves
  • the invasion that Japan carried out in the Far East
  • the invasion that Italy carried out in Africa
  • a trade ban that failed to stop the aggressor

Match the weakness

  • no army
  • the USA stayed out
  • slow decisions
  • self-interest
  • it could not force an aggressor to stop
  • a powerful country stayed outside the League
  • disputes were dealt with too slowly
  • members put their own needs first

Who invaded Manchuria?

Which country invaded Manchuria in 1931?

  • Japan.
  • Italy.
  • Germany.
  • France.

Signs of failure

Select the TWO events that showed the League could not stop a great power in the 1930s.

  • The invasion of Manchuria.
  • The invasion of Abyssinia.
  • A small border dispute being settled.
  • The League running disease programmes.

Order the collapse

Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.

  • The worldwide Depression begins
  • Japan invades Manchuria
  • Japan leaves the League
  • Italy invades Abyssinia
  • War breaks out in Europe

Complete the facts

The global downturn that pushed nations to look after themselves was the _____. In 1931 Japan invaded _____. In 1935 Italy invaded _____. To make an aggressor obey, the League needed an _____, which it did not have. One great power, the United States, had never _____ as a member.

Depression Manchuria Abyssinia army joined recovery Corfu France navy left

Years between the crises

The Manchurian crisis began in 1931 and the Abyssinian crisis began in 1935. Subtract 1931 from 1935 to find the gap in years. What is the answer?

Spot the weaknesses

Tap the TWO weaknesses that stopped the League acting in the 1930s.

  • the League had no army
  • the United States had not joined
  • the League had a powerful army
  • the League always decided quickly

Judge the crisis

Read each situation and choose the best judgement.

  • Japan invades Manchuria and the League only sends a commission that takes months to report. What does this show?
  • The League places sanctions on Italy but leaves out oil and keeps the Suez Canal open. What does this show?
  • Both Japan and Italy leave the League after their invasions. What does this show?

Explain the collapse

Explain why the League of Nations collapsed in the 1930s.

  • Explain how the Depression made countries act in their own interest
  • Use the Manchurian and Abyssinian crises as evidence
  • Explain the weaknesses that the crises revealed