Question 2: Should the United States join the League of Nations?
Read the documents below to help you develop your opinion on this essential question regarding the future of our world and the precarious peace President Wilson has worked to establish in Versailles.
Submit your comments below. For each question, every student should:
- Write a comment using evidence to back up your opinion (either by referencing the document or referencing specific facts discussed in class or in your readings)
- Ask a question
- Respond to someone else's comment or question
Document 1: President Wilson presents the Treaty of Versailles to the Senate
A league of free nations had become a practical necessity. ...
That there should be a league of nations to steady the counsels and maintain the peaceful understandings of the world ... [is] the basis of peace with the central powers. The statesmen of all the belligerent countries were agreed that such a league must be created to sustain the settlements that were to be effected. ... The League of Nations was the practical statesman’s hope of success in many of the most difficult things he was attempting.
Document 2: Henry Cabot Lodge's Reservations
The United States assumes no obligation to preserve the territorial integrity or political independence of any other country or to interfere in controversies between nations -- whether members of the League or not -- under the provisions of Article 10, or to employ the military or naval forces of the United States under any article of the treaty for any purpose, unless in any particular case the Congress, which, under the Constitution, has the sole power to declare war or authorize the employment of the military or naval forces of the United States, shall by act or joint resolution so provide. ...
If the United States shall at any time adopt any plan for the limitation of armaments proposed by the Council of the League of Nations under the provisions of Article 8, it reserves the right to increase such armaments without the consent of the Council whenever the United States is threatened with invasion or engaged in war.
Document 3: Excerpt from a speech by Senator Robinson (Democrat from Arkansas)
No senator can doubt that the repudiation by the United States of the undertaking in Article 10 to respect and preserve the territorial integrity and political independence of the other members of the League weakens, if it does not destroy, one of the principal agencies or means provided by the League for the prevention of international war.
The United States should not join the League of Nations, as seen in Henry's Cabot Lodge's Reservations, the U.S had no need to meddle i the affairs of other countries, especially because under Article 10, it'd need to use its military and/or naval power to eliminate the threat which is in question. Does the U.N act the same as the League of Nations?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your argument as I mentioned in my comment joining the League of Nations would be hazardous. Neutrality is key and engagement with certain countries can cause jealousy between other countries that are being left out.
DeleteThe UN works by talking about conflicts and punishing the aggressor by not trading with him
DeleteThe UN peacemaking generally includes measures to address conflicts in progress and usually involves diplomatic action to bring hostile parties to a negotiated agreement.
DeleteThe United States had agreed to stay neutral in international affairs since president George Washington. The United states should not join the league of nations because it will further divide the United States due to their different origins. The engagement into this league would limit the congressional power to declare war and violate the constitution.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement. Joining the League of Nations would mean to have issues in the U.S. itself and that wouldn't give us time to think about others' problems because we would be focusing on ours.
DeleteThe US should not join the League of Nations, it will continue to cause problems between the Democratics and Republicans . in Henry Cabot Lodge's Reservation, he describes the disagreement people have with the 10 Article, (which states that if one country in the League of Nations gets attacked, all countries will attack the attacker )
ReplyDeleteThe U.S should join the league of nations because it will help ensure that the world would be in peace. With the help of all nations, they will prevent to fight ever again. Joining the league of nations would put an end to all wars.
ReplyDeleteWhat if conflict erupted within the League of Nations and that led to an even greater war?
DeleteHow will joining the League on Nations benefit them?
DeleteIt is necessary for the United States to join the League of Nations because it is a superpower. That way we will influence other weaker nations to come together with us and eventually gather all of us together.
ReplyDeleteThe United States should not join the League of Nations because it would better to stay out of other Nation's problems. This could bring upon unnecessary conflict for the U.S. In addition, join the league would be considered as going against what the nation believes in, the Constitution.
ReplyDeleteThe United States shouldn't join the League of Nations because it contradicts with George Washington's ideas and it also limits the United States power of weaponry its essential for the Untied States to be ready for any situation.
ReplyDeleteWhat was Washington's ideas?
DeleteDisagreement between countries could cause a large disruption in the peace that was supposed to be settled with the creation of the League of Nations. Therefore, the U.S.'s involvement in the league of nations would only draw them into potential war. As shown in Henry Cabot Lodge's Reservations, there is the concern of invasion and engagement of war between the U.S. and a foreign power if there was a ever a disagreement.
ReplyDeletei believe otherwise. i think it would let them have peace within one another.
DeleteI strongly agree with you because it is possible for every nation to not agree with each other and lead to a fallout.
DeleteThe U.S should be part of the League of Nations. One because countries would now trust one another more, peace would be maintain, and the organization would now be stronger.
ReplyDeletei dissagree bacause countires would be dragged into wars that have nothing to do with them
DeleteI agree. The League of Nations gives America more power and resources.
DeleteI totally agree with you perla!!!
DeleteThe US should go into the League of Nations, Wilson agrees that it would benefit us as it would provide peace for many. It is basically like the United Nations@Juan M. Rodriguez. The league of nations back then could have prevented WWII.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone feel that WWII was necessary?
how would it provide peace for many?
DeleteThe US has no business in other nation's affairs, Like Cabot Lodge's Reservations, specially because wasting our resources and sending our soldiers to die for a war that will not even be ours. Why did Wilson thought it was a good idea in the first place?
ReplyDeletei agree nestor
DeleteWell put Nestor, well put...see you remind me of Lincoln, a great spokesman old chap. I am talking in a British accent right now. Yes, I don't think the US should the LON, since its better to avoid problems.
DeleteYes, I think the U.S should not get involved with the League of Nations, because nobody wants to get in problems. The last thing the U.S needs is casualties and men to fight in someone else's war.
ReplyDeletebut wouldn't joining avoid problems?
DeleteI agree with your argument because we already have our own issues.
Deletethe U.S has no benifit in joining the leage of nations because it should not waste it's reasorces and time in other countries affairs
ReplyDeleteHow are we gonna get help when the United States is going through hard times?
DeleteI agree that the US shouldn't get involved, but when it comes to depression, I'd say the US is going to have a different perspective.
DeleteThe Uniited States should join the Leauge of Nation because it will provide less conflict between nations.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with you completely.
Deletesame The US should join it
DeleteYeah even if we are all different.
DeleteI disagree, due to the fact that other nations would see this as a problem and want to join together and fight all the League of Nations causing a huge super war.
DeleteI also disagree because that can cause more problems for the US. The US shouldn't be responsible for other countries in peril. The US shouldn't be risking soldiers to fight for another country that started its own problems.
DeleteIn my opinion the Unites States should join the League of Nations because America is all about power. The League of Nations will give the Unites States that power and support that they need in order to continue and maintain power. If the United States does not join the League of Nations then the League of Nations will eventually over power the United States. It is better to be a part of something big than be left out.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you went straight to what should happen
DeleteShould the United States join the League of Nations? yes because we can help prevent issues that would later affect the world
ReplyDeleteI believe the United States should not join the League of Nations because the United States would be forced to use its army to defend a country that is attacked, even if the conflict has nothing to do with the United States. As document 2 suggests, Lodge does not believe the United States has "obligation to preserve the territorial integrity... of any other country..."
ReplyDeleteI agree, because the U.S would be basically in alliance with other countries, which meant support in foreign affairs.
DeleteAt the same time, I want to say for the US to join, but that will only drag the country into other foreign problems with other nations, so yes, I agree with you>
DeleteIt would be necessary for the U.S to enter the League of Nations because its a World Power.
ReplyDeleteExactly, the United States should be a part of that World Power.
DeleteI agree with your comment because if we all come together then the nation will be untouchable.
DeleteAs the Monroe's Doctrine in which U.S had the responsibility to protect and defend America and its countries from Europeans nations, the United States as a powerful nation should join to the League, and as Wilson said the necessity to keep peace.
ReplyDeleteWho thinks US should join the League of nations?
ReplyDeleteWhy should we stay separated?
ReplyDeleteThe United States should join the League of Nations because if there is a country who wants to harm other countries then the League of Nations can put a stop into it before it gets out of hand. In document 1, Wilson explains that a League of Nations must be created to sustain the settlements that were to be effected
ReplyDeleteThe U.S should not join the league of nations because the U.S would be agreeing to a permanent alliance with the whole world. Thus changing the dominant view that the U.S should at all times remain neutral.
ReplyDeleteI believe the United States shouldn't join the League of Nations due to the fact that the U.S we be bound to war whenever any of the other nations got into trouble. As Cabot said that the U.S. had no business interfering the with problems of any other nation. The U.S. is to not go to war unless there is a necessity to fight.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the United States should not join the alliance as there were many things that the U.S. did to stay neutral. For example, when J.P Morgan was lending out loans and Wilson banned it since he saw it as the U.S. was siding with the opponents of the war and wanted to stay neutral.
ReplyDeleteGood use of evidence!!!!
DeleteWhy should the U.S. avoid coming together in the league of Nations if it would make one big super power?
ReplyDeleteIf they joined, it would be dragged into war that was of no interest to the U.S
DeleteThe U.S. should not join the League of Nations because we have our own problems to deal with and don't have the necessity to deal with other nations'
ReplyDeleteI disagree, I believe nations are stronger when they are united as one instead of trying to solve problems individually.
DeleteThe U.S should be part of the League of Nations because if by any chance any other country would want to interfere with the U.S trade or economic then the League Nations would prevent and help support it.
ReplyDeleteDespite Henry Lodge's argument, why does Wilson remain attached to the idea that joining the League of Nations is of any benefit?
ReplyDelete