After the devastation that was World War I, nations across the globe were in need of a way

to create an international commission to avoid future wars and preserve world peace.
Woodrow Wilson, through his fourteen point speech, derived the foundation of an
organization that could possibly unite the worlds nations called the League of Nations.
Unfortunately, with Wilsons stubbornness, the republican senate, and the people of the
United States disapproval of a world organization, one of the biggest and most wealthy
nations in the world was unable to join the League of Nations. This ultimately led to the
Leagues demise. After the larger and more threatening second global war, the Allied powers
helped form the United Nations, a more advanced twin of the League of Nations. This time,
with the United States full support, the world was more confident in the United Nations,
eventually resulting in its success. ---During the beginning of the twentieth century, the
United States was mainly a nation focused on isolationism. When the First World War hit it
even further exemplified this sentiment of Americans. They were not interested in the
involvement of a European war and it took a whole lot of destruction from Germany to force
them to join. After the war, most Americans immediately returned to seeking the seclusion
they had before. This made for a bad time for Woodrow Wilson to propose his League of
Nations at the Paris Peace Conference. Many believe today that the need for a worldwide
peace keeping organization was much needed in the 1920s, and so did Woodrow Wilson and
many nations leaders. However, the republicans had won a majority in the midterm
elections of Wilsons second term and they headed the movement of isolationism. When
Congress and Senate Majority Leader Henry Lodge got a hold of Wilsons League of Nations,
there were many points that they detested. Specifically, the clause that stated that in the
instance of an attack on a nation of the League, all other nations had to assist with the
defense of that nation. Congress didnt want to be forced into another European war like it
was in World War I. This caused Congress to reject the Treaty of Versailles and the League of
Nations. The result of the United States not joining the League of Nations was catastrophic
on the League. Without the aid of powerful America, the European powers of Britain, France,
and Italy were too weak to enforce its sanctions. When the great depression hit in the 1930s,
European countries selfishly began focusing on stabilizing its own problems and

idnt have the resources to worry about anyone else. When Japan and Italy betrayed the
League of Nations, and Germany began to attack bordering countries, it caused the fragile
organization to wither away. ----Early in World War II, the United States and Britain created a
joint declaration called the Atlantic Charter. This declaration helped outline the post-World
War II goals for the Allies, which was already a big step forward from the disaster that was
post-World War I. Once World War II came to a close and the League of Nations was officially
disbanded, it became apparent that a stronger and more versatile form of world-wide
assembly was essential. Franklin Roosevelt was aware that this time the United States
needed to not only help create an assembly that achieved this, but also needed to play a
leading role in its execution. The United States reaction to World War II was perfect for
achieving this. Americans could now see after World War II that isolationism was not
effective for maintaining the nations peace. Roosevelts preparedness and likeability
coupled with the nations changing ideology resulted the United States full support of the
United Nation. With America now being fully involved in the United Nations, the first
international organization to do so, the United Nations could reach its full potential. With
help from the United States, the United Nations was able to form the International Monetary
Fund and the World Bank to establish international financial stability. With more significant
sub-organizations relying on The United Nations, the UN became a group that nations felt
essential to be a part of, which could not be said about League of Nations. This necessity to
be a part of the United Nations is huge reason why it is still in place today.---The League of
Nations was undeniably a significant idea constructed by a wise Woodrow Wilson. What
ultimately caused the failure of the League was poor timing. The United States was still set
on isolationism and didnt feel the need to protect the relations of foreign nations. Without
one of the most powerful and wealthy nations in the world, the League of Nations wasnt
able to hold strong through the Great Depression. However, after World War II ideologies
changed and people in the United States felt a responsibility for intervening in foreign
nations to prevent another world war. Franklin Roosevelt helped create an improved
international organization that was the United Nations. With the support of the United
States, the United Nations became a strong and useful organization that has been able to
stand the test of time.