What arguments were made for and against the League of Nations?
Use these source documents to cite specific evidence in your thesis.
1. Wilson's Joint Address to Congress Leading to the Declaration of War Against Germany
2. Henry Cabot Lodge: Reservations with Regard to the Treaty
3. An expert from the Senate Debate of the League of Nations
4. Wilson's Final Address in Support of the League of Nations
The League of Nations was a controversial proposal that generated arguments both for and against its establishment. Supporters of the League, such as President Woodrow Wilson in his Joint Address to Congress Leading to the Declaration of War Against Germany, argued that it would promote international cooperation and prevent future wars. Wilson believed that the League would provide a forum for nations to resolve disputes peacefully and that its collective security measures would deter aggression. Additionally, in Wilson's Final Address in Support of the League of Nations, he argued that the League would promote democracy and human rights around the world.
However, opponents of the League, such as Senator Henry Cabot Lodge in his Reservations with Regard to the Treaty, argued that it would undermine American sovereignty and entangle the country in foreign conflicts. Lodge believed that the League's collective security measures would require the United States to go to war to defend other nations, even if it did not directly threaten American interests. Furthermore, an expert from the Senate Debate of the League of Nations argued that the League's structure would give too much power to the Great Powers and that it would be ineffective in preventing future wars.
In conclusion, the League of Nations generated arguments both for and against its establishment. Supporters believed that it would promote international cooperation and prevent future wars, while opponents argued that it would undermine American sovereignty and be ineffective in preventing future conflicts.