How far did the Japanese takeover of Manchuria undermine the credibility of the League of Nations?
Level
AS LEVEL
Year Examined
2022
Topic
China and Japan, 1912–45
👑Complete Model Essay
How far did the Japanese takeover of Manchuria undermine the credibility of the League of Nations?
Writing a History Essay: The Japanese Takeover of Manchuria and the League of Nations' Credibility
This guide provides a framework for writing a strong A-level history essay on the impact of the Japanese takeover of Manchuria on the League of Nations' credibility. This essay requires you to assess the extent to which the event undermined the League's position as an international force for peace.
Understanding the Question
The essay question asks you to make an argument about the degree to which the Japanese actions undermined the League's credibility. This means you need to consider both sides of the argument: how the event might have weakened the League's position, but also how other factors and the League's own limitations might have contributed to the decline in its influence.
It's important to remember that the League of Nations was a new organization with inherent limitations, which would have affected its ability to maintain peace even without the Manchurian crisis. The essay should analyze the specific impact of the Japanese takeover, while acknowledging the broader context of the League's strengths and weaknesses.
Developing Your Argument
Your essay should present a clear and well-supported argument. This means taking a stance on the question and then providing evidence to support your claim. Here are some possible arguments and supporting evidence:
The Japanese Takeover Undermined the League:
⭐The League's Failure to Impose Sanctions: The League's failure to effectively respond to Japanese aggression, despite issuing condemnations and resolutions, demonstrated its inability to enforce its decisions. This undermined its authority and set a dangerous precedent for future conflicts.
⭐The Withdrawal of Japan and Germany: The Japanese withdrawal from the League in 1933, followed by Germany's exit in the same year, further weakened the organization. These actions showed that powerful nations felt no obligation to abide by the League's decisions.
⭐Impact on Later Crises: The League's failure to act decisively in Manchuria contributed to its lack of influence in subsequent crises like the Abyssinian crisis. The lack of international action in Manchuria emboldened aggressor states, further undermining the League's credibility.
Other Factors Contributed to the League's Decline:
⭐Lack of Military Force: The League was not equipped to enforce its decisions with military power. This limitation was evident in the Manchuria crisis, where member states were unwilling to risk military confrontation with Japan due to their own interests.
⭐Great Power Self-Interest: The League's decisions were often influenced by the self-interest of the major powers, particularly Britain and France. Their desire to maintain stability in their colonies and avoid conflict with Japan limited their willingness to act decisively against Japanese aggression.
⭐The Rise of Nationalism and Isolationism: The interconnected nature of the global economy was being replaced by a turn toward nationalism and isolationism. This made countries less receptive to international organizations like the League, and made it more difficult to build collective security.
Writing Your Essay
Use the following structure to craft your essay:
Introduction
⭐Provide context: Briefly introduce the League of Nations and its aims.
⭐State your thesis: Clearly state your argument regarding the impact of the Japanese takeover on the League's credibility.
⭐Outline your main points: Briefly introduce the key arguments you will develop in the main body of your essay.
Main Body
⭐Paragraph 1: Develop your first main argument (e.g., the League's failure to impose sanctions). Provide evidence and analysis to support your point.
⭐Paragraph 2: Develop your second main argument (e.g., the impact of Japan and Germany's withdrawal). Provide evidence and analysis to support your point.
⭐Paragraph 3: Present the opposing viewpoint (e.g., the League's limitations in enforcing its decisions). Address the limitations of the League's authority and the role of Great Power self-interest.
⭐Paragraph 4: Consider further arguments (e.g., the impact of the Manchurian crisis on later crises). Analyze how the League's failure in Manchuria might have influenced its response to other conflicts and contributed to its broader decline.
Conclusion
⭐Restate your thesis: Summarize your main argument regarding the impact of the Japanese takeover on the League's credibility.
⭐Evaluate your arguments: Briefly assess the strengths and limitations of your arguments.
⭐Provide a concluding statement: Conclude with a final thought or reflection on the significance of the event and the League's legacy.
Tips for Writing a Successful Essay
⭐Research: Thorough research is crucial. Use a range of sources, including primary sources, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the event and its context.
⭐Focus and Argumentation: Ensure your essay focuses on the central question and develops a clear argument. Avoid simply listing facts or repeating information from your sources.
⭐Evidence: Use evidence to support your arguments. Be specific and avoid generalizations.
⭐Analysis: Don't just present facts; explain why they are important and what they reveal about the relationship between the Japanese takeover and the League's credibility.
⭐Structure: Organize your essay clearly and logically. Use paragraphs to present different arguments and connect them through transitions.
⭐Language and Style: Write in clear, concise, and academic language. Avoid slang or informal language.
⭐Proofreading: Proofread your essay carefully for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Ensure your arguments are presented logically and convincingly.
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Essay Outline: How Far Did the Japanese Takeover of Manchuria Undermine the Credibility of the League of Nations?
This essay will analyze the extent to which the Japanese takeover of Manchuria undermined the credibility of the League of Nations as an international force for peace. It will explore arguments for both the undermining and non-undermining effects of the Japanese action, ultimately concluding that while the incident significantly damaged the League's reputation, other factors were also at play.
Arguments for the Undermining of the League's Credibility
1. League's Ineffectiveness: The Japanese ignored all League resolutions calling for their withdrawal, highlighting the League's inability to enforce its decisions. Their withdrawal from the League further emphasized its weakness.
2. Setting a Precedent for Aggression: The League's failure to act decisively in Manchuria emboldened other aggressors, such as Hitler and Mussolini, who challenged the League in subsequent crises.
3. Erosion of International Order: The Japanese takeover undermined the principles of international law and collective security, demonstrating a disregard for the League's core values.
Arguments Against the Undermining of the League's Credibility
1. Limited Powers and Resources: The League was inherently limited by its lack of military force and reliance on member-state cooperation. International self-interest often trumped collective security measures.
2. Continued League Activities: Despite the Manchuria crisis, the League continued to pursue other objectives, such as the International Drugs Convention of 1936. This demonstrates its ongoing relevance in other areas.
3. Other Contributing Factors: The League's decline in credibility is not solely attributable to the Manchuria incident. Factors such as the Great Depression, the rise of fascism, and the unwillingness of major powers to commit to collective security also played significant roles.
Conclusion
The Japanese takeover of Manchuria contributed significantly to the decline of the League's credibility by exposing its inherent weaknesses and emboldening aggressive powers. However, it is important to acknowledge that other factors, including the League's limitations and the changing geopolitical landscape, also contributed to its eventual failure. Ultimately, the Manchuria crisis served as a pivotal turning point, illustrating the challenges of maintaining international peace through an organization lacking sufficient power and commitment from its members.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
How far did the Japanese takeover of Manchuria undermine the credibility of the League of Nations?
Answers should focus on the issue of the credibility of the League as an international force for peace.
The Japanese takeover did undermine the League:
The Japanese ignored all League Council’s resolution calling for their withdrawal and when a special session of the Assembly repeated this call the Japanese simply withdrew, never to return (Feb 1933). The league failed to impose economic sanctions which had an adverse effect on later actions re. Abyssinia and the Spanish Civil War. Later in 1933 when Germany failed to get what it wanted from the League sponsored World Disarmament Conference, Hitler used it as an excuse to also leave the League. As a result of these Mussolini felt confident to challenge the League's authority in his invasion of Abyssinia leaving the League when it tried to take action against him. As a result, the League was increasingly ignored in international crises.
The Japanese takeover did not undermine the League / It was other factors:
The League followed established arbitration procedures, setting up the Lytton commission to investigate the rival claims of the Chinese and Japanese. The League had never had a military capacity to enforce its recommendations, and the British and French were not prepared to take further actions because of a possible threat to their own Far East territories so Great Power self-interest over-rode League interests as it had tended to do before, e.g. Corfu, disarmament talks, etc. Despite a positive response to Haile Selassie’s appeal for help against Italy the League basically failed again to take effective action as it had failed against Italy in Corfu. The USSR was still determined to join and was admitted in 1934. Britain and France continued to give significant support to the League and its activities in other spheres continued to develop, e.g. International Drugs Convention 1936 is still active today.
*Accept any other valid responses.