Year 9Monday 20th April: Why was the Abyssinian Crisis fatal to the League of Nations?

Learning Objectives:To know why Italy invade AbyssinianTo understand why the Abyssinian crisis was so damaging to the LeagueTo be able to explain how this may have contributed to a World War. Task 1: What can you remember? Answer each of the following recap questions:1. How was Europe affected by the economic depression?2. How did different countries respond to the problems they faced during the economic depression?3. Why did the economic depression make the work of the League of Nations more difficult?4. Why did Japan invade Manchuria?5. Give 2 reasons why the League failed to deal with the Manchurian crisis Why did the Abyssinian Crisis make the League look weak?

I want land to take over

Abyssinia ,in Africa, to make Italy strong and

powerful.

In 1935, Benito Mussolini invaded Abyssinia, a country in Africa (now known as Ethiopia). Mussolini had 2 motives:1. Nationalism: The desire to have the best country and for it to be more powerful than other countries2. The Economy: The desire to have more products and land, which would make Italy richer.Task 2: Read through the following reasons Mussolini invaded Abyssinia and decide if it is to do with 1) Nationalism or 2) The Economy• Mussolini saw himself as a modern day Julius Caesar (a Roman Emperor) who would one day be in charge of a

vast Italian empire as had existed in the days of Caesar. • Italy already ruled the neighbouring countries – Somalia and Eritrea so Mussolini felt he deserved Abyssinia as

well• The Italians had attempted to expand into Abyssinia in 1896, but the Italians were heavily defeated by the

Abyssinians at the Battle of Adowa. This defeat badly dented Italian pride.• Abyssinia was seen as militarily weak but rich in natural resources which could be sold. Task 3: Read through the GCSE article on the next page about the Invasion of Abyssinia. Create a table like the one below. In the first column, write an explanation about why the Italians invaded Abyssinia. The next 4 columns are the 4 main weaknesses of the League of Nations. Under each of these headings, you should write evidence of these weaknesses from the story of the Invasion of Abyssinia. I have given you one example.

Why did the Italians invade Abyssinia?

1. The absence of the USA

2. Britain and France acting in their own interests

3. Slow to make decisions

4. Limited power

• Italy kept the USA as a trading partner, so if the League stopped trading with Italy it wouldn’t make any difference.

If you find the GCSE article too difficult, go to the last pageand use the storyboard. If you have chosen this subject as an option for next year, however, you should give the GCSE article a go.

GCSE Article

Background to the Invasion

Phase 1: January 1935-October 1935 – The League plays for time

Phase 2: October 1935-May 1936 – Sanctions or not?

Continue onto the next page…

Mussolini gains Abyssinia

This cartoon, by David Low, shows Mussolini lifting the lid on a ‘beast’.

Bonus Task: What do you think the beast could be representing?

Alternative: Storyboard on the Invasion of Abyssinia