League of Nations

An international organization formed after World War I to "promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security." It functioned from 1920 until it was dissolved in 1946, after World War II. Its headquarters were in Geneva, Switzerland.

The creation of the League was the culmination of ideals expressed as early as the 14th century. The immediate impetus, however, was the cataclysm of World War I and the realization by a few leaders that some security must be provided against future wars. The League did not fulfill the hopes of its founders, but it played a significant role in world politics, did important work in the social and economic fields, and was a model in many respects for the United Nations.

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