Chapter 7 – The League of Nations and the United Nations

The League of Nations and the United Nations is an important topic in WBBSE Class 9 History. It explains the formation, objectives, and roles of international organizations in maintaining peace and cooperation. Here, you will find The League of Nations and the United Nations questions and answers along with key concepts, important questions, and solutions to help you prepare effectively for your exams.

Content Structure

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)
2. Very short-type questions and answers
- 2A. Fill in the blanks
- 2B. True or false
- 2C. Match the column
- 2D. Single word questions and answers
3. Short-type questions and answers
4. Long-type questions and answers

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)

1. Who is the head of the Secretariat?
a) President
b) Prime Minister
c) Secretary-General
d) Judge

Ans: c) Secretary-General

2. The League of Nations was established after which war?
a) First World War
b) Second World War
c) Cold War
d) Crimean War

Ans: a) First World War

3. Where was the headquarters of the League of Nations?
a) Paris
b) London
c) Geneva
d) Rome

Ans: c) Geneva

4. Which country did not join the League of Nations?
a) Britain
b) France
c) USA
d) Italy

Ans: c) USA

5. Which organ was the main deliberative body of the League?
a) Council
b) Assembly
c) Secretariat
d) Court

Ans: b) Assembly

6. Who proposed the League of Nations?
a) Winston Churchill
b) Woodrow Wilson
c) Franklin Roosevelt
d) Joseph Stalin

Ans: b) Woodrow Wilson

7. Which body was the executive organ of the League?
a) Assembly
b) Council
c) Secretariat
d) Court

Ans: b) Council

8. The UNO was established in which year?
a) 1940
b) 1943
c) 1945
d) 1950

Ans: c) 1945

9. In which year did the League of Nations end?
a) 1940
b) 1945
c) 1946
d) 1950

Ans: c) 1946

10. On which date is United Nations Day celebrated?
a) 15 August
b) 24 October
c) 26 January
d) 10 December

Ans: b) 24 October

11. How many main organs does the UNO have?
a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) 7

Ans: c) 6

12. Where is the headquarters of UNO?
a) Geneva
b) London
c) Paris
d) New York

Ans: d) New York

13. Which is the most powerful organ of the UNO?
a) General Assembly
b) Security Council
c) Secretariat
d) ICJ

Ans: b) Security Council

14. How many total members are in the Security Council?
a) 10
b) 12
c) 15
d) 20

Ans: c) 15

15. Which country is a permanent member of the Security Council?
a) India
b) Japan
c) China
d) Germany

Ans: c) China

2. Very short-type questions and answers

2A. Fill in the blanks [1 marks each]

1. The first session of the League of Nations was convened in ____________. (10 January 1920)
2. The Second World War began in _____________.(1939)
3. The General Assembly appoints the Secretary-General for _____________ years. (five years)
4. The UNO was founded in ____________.(24 October 1945)
5. The International Court of Justice was established in _____________.(1945)
6. The UNO was established in ______________. (San Francisco)
7. The headquarters of UNICEF is in ___________.(New York)
8. ___________________ is not a permanent member of the UN Security Council.(India)
9. In the Yalta Conference Russia was represented by ________________. (Joseph Stalin)
10. World Disarmament Conference was convened in ________________. (1932)

2B. True or false [1 marks each]

1. The League of Nations was formed after the First World War. (True)
2. The headquarters of the League of Nations was in Geneva. (True)
3. The Covenant of the League of Nations was included in the Treaty of Versailles. (True)
4. The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the UNO. (True)
5. The League of Nations had no military force of its own. (True)
6. The Council was an important organ of the League of Nations. (True)
7. The League of Nations was dissolved in 1946. (True)
8. The UNO officially came into existence on 24 October 1945. (True)
9. The Assembly was the executive body of the League of Nations. (False)
10. The headquarters of the UNO is in London.(False)

2C. Very short-type questions and answers [1 marks each]

1. Which organization was established to maintain world peace after World War I?
Ans: The League of Nations was established to maintain world peace after World War I.

2. Name the executive organ of the League of Nations.
Ans: The most important body of the League of Nations other than the Assembly was the Council.

3. Which document created the original membership of the UNO?
Ans: The United Nations Charter created the original membership of the UNO.

4. What are the three principal organs of the League of Nations?
Ans: The three principal organs of the League of Nations were the Assembly, the Council, and the Secretariat.

5. How were new members admitted in the League Assembly?
Ans: New members were admitted in the League Assembly by a two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly.

6. Who elected the temporary members of the League Council?
Ans: The temporary members of the League Council were elected by the Assembly.

7. Name the countries which were first elected as members of the League Council.
Ans: Belgium, Brazil, Greece, and Spain were first elected as temporary members of the League Council.

8. What were the two autonomous bodies of the League of Nations?
Ans: The two autonomous bodies of the League of Nations were the Permanent Court of International Justice and the International Labour Organisation.

9. When was the first session of the League convened?
Ans: The first session of the League of Nations was convened on 10 January 1920.

10. Where was the first session of the League of Nations held?
Ans: The first session of the League of Nations was held at Geneva in Switzerland.

11. What was the function of the Permanent Court of International Justice?
Ans: The function of the Permanent Court of International Justice was to settle international disputes and give legal advice to the League.

12. When was the last session of the League of Nations held?
Ans: The last session of the League of Nations was held in April 1946.

13. What is Covenant?
Ans: The Covenant was the written constitution of the League of Nations which contained its aims, principles, and rules.

14. When was the Permanent Court of International Justice opened and where?
Ans: The Permanent Court of International Justice was opened in 1922 at The Hague in the Netherlands.

15. Who selected the name United Nations Organisation?
Ans: The name United Nations Organisation was selected by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

3. Short-type questions and answers [2 marks each]

1. Which conference led to the formation of the UNO?
Ans: The final step towards the formation of the United Nations Organisation was taken at the San Francisco Conference in 1945, where the United Nations Charter was signed.

2. Which conference supported Wilson’s proposal to form the League of Nations?
Ans: The delegates to the Paris Peace Conference supported the proposal of Woodrow Wilson to set up an international organization. He suggested the creation of the League of Nations to maintain world peace and prevent future wars.

3. How was the League of Nations founded?
Ans: The League of Nations was founded as a result of the Treaty of Versailles signed in 1919 after the First World War. Its Covenant was included in the Treaty, and it officially came into existence on 10 January 1920.

4. Which two types of members constituted the League Council?
Ans: The League Council consisted of two types of members:

Non-permanent (temporary) members: These members were elected by the Assembly for a fixed period.
Permanent members: These were the major powers and had permanent representation in the Council.

5. Which incident of 1931 brought to the fore the failure of the League of Nations?
Ans: The Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 brought to the fore the failure of the League of Nations. Japan ignored the League’s orders and continued its aggression, showing the League’s weakness.

6. Who were the members of the League Council?
Ans: The League Council consisted of permanent members such as Britain, France, Italy, and Japan, and non-permanent members elected by the Assembly. Later, Germany and the Soviet Union also became permanent members.

7. Which body of the UN is regarded as the most important?
Ans: The Security Council is regarded as the most important body of the United Nations because it is responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

8. Write a note on the Covenant of the League of Nations.
Ans: The Covenant of the League of Nations was the constitution of the League. It contained the aims, principles, and rules of the League. It emphasized maintaining peace, reducing armaments, settling disputes peacefully, and promoting international cooperation.

4. Analytical questions and answers [4 marks each]

1. Write in short what you know about the composition of the UN Security Council.
Ans: The Security Council is one of the most important organs of the United Nations Organisation. It consists of a total of fifteen members. Out of these, five are permanent members and ten are non-permanent members. The five permanent members are the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China. These permanent members have a special power called the veto, which allows them to reject any important decision of the Council. The remaining ten members are non-permanent members, and they are elected by the General Assembly for a period of two years. These non-permanent members represent different regions of the world. Each member of the Security Council has one vote, but the permanent members have special voting power. The Security Council plays a vital role in maintaining international peace and security and in settling disputes between nations.

2. Write about the formation of the United Nations.
Ans: The formation of the United Nations Organisation took place in the following stages:

Failure of the League of Nations: The League of Nations failed to prevent the Second World War, which showed the need for a stronger international organisation.
Devastation of the Second World War: The massive destruction and loss of life during the war made countries realise the importance of maintaining peace.
Atlantic Charter (1941): The idea of forming a new international organisation was first supported in the Atlantic Charter signed by the leaders of the USA and Britain.
Declaration by United Nations (1942): Many countries joined together and agreed to work for peace and security.
San Francisco Conference (1945): Representatives of fifty-one countries met at San Francisco to discuss and form the new organisation.
Signing of the UN Charter: The representatives signed the United Nations Charter, which became the constitution of the UNO.
Official establishment: The United Nations Organisation officially came into existence on 24 October 1945.
Main aim: The main aim of the UNO was to maintain international peace and security and promote cooperation among nations.

3. What are the functions of the Economic and Social Council of the UNO?
Ans: The functions of the Economic and Social Council are:

Promotion of economic development: It works to improve the economic conditions of member countries.
Promotion of social welfare: It helps to improve social conditions and the standard of living of people.
Coordination of specialised agencies: It coordinates the work of specialised agencies like WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, and ILO.
Promotion of education and health: It supports programmes related to education, health, and social progress.
Protection of human rights: It works to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Encouragement of international cooperation: It encourages cooperation among countries in economic, social, and cultural matters.
Conducting studies and reports: It conducts studies and prepares reports on international economic and social issues.

4. Write in short about the structure of the League of Nations.
Ans: The League of Nations had three main organs—the Assembly, the Council, and the Secretariat. The Assembly consisted of representatives of all member countries and discussed matters of international importance. The Council was the executive body and consisted of permanent and non-permanent members. It dealt with disputes and took steps to maintain peace. The Secretariat carried out the administrative work of the League. In addition, there were two autonomous bodies—the Permanent Court of International Justice and the International Labour Organisation.

5. Name the permanent members of the Security Council of the UNO.
Ans: The permanent members of the Security Council are:

Special power: All these permanent members have veto power, which allows them to reject any important decision.
United States of America: It is a major world power and plays an important role in maintaining international peace.
United Kingdom: It was one of the founding members of the United Nations and has permanent representation.
France: It is an important European country and has permanent membership in the Security Council.
Russia: It represents the former Soviet Union and is one of the most powerful members.
China: It represents Asia and is a permanent member of the Security Council.

6. What is the function of the Security Council of the UNO?
Ans: The functions of the Security Council are:

Peacekeeping operations: It sends peacekeeping forces to conflict areas to maintain peace.
Maintenance of peace: Its main function is to maintain international peace and security.
Settlement of disputes: It helps countries settle disputes peacefully through discussion and negotiation.
Prevention of war: It takes necessary steps to prevent wars and conflicts between nations.
Action against aggressors: It can impose sanctions such as economic restrictions or military action against aggressive countries.
Admission of new members: It recommends new countries for membership in the United Nations.

7. What is your assessment of the League of Nations?
Ans: The League of Nations was the first international organisation formed to maintain world peace. It helped settle some disputes peacefully and worked for social and economic welfare. However, it failed to prevent aggression by powerful countries like Germany, Italy, and Japan. It had no army and lacked the support of major powers like the USA. Therefore, it failed to prevent the Second World War. Its failure led to the formation of the United Nations Organisation.

5. Explanatory questions and answers [8 marks each]

1. Write about the structure of the League of Nations.
Ans: The League of Nations had a well-defined structure consisting of several important organs to carry out its functions. The main organs were the Assembly, the Council, and the Secretariat. The Assembly was the principal deliberative body and consisted of representatives of all member countries, each having one vote. It discussed important international matters, admitted new members, and supervised the work of the League. The Council was the executive body and consisted of permanent and non-permanent members. Its main function was to maintain international peace and security and to settle disputes between nations. The Secretariat was the administrative organ, headed by the Secretary-General, and it carried out the day-to-day work of the League, prepared reports, and maintained records. Besides these, there were two autonomous bodies—the Permanent Court of International Justice, which settled legal disputes between countries, and the International Labour Organisation, which worked to improve labour conditions. All these organs worked together to maintain peace and promote international cooperation.

2. Write about the aims and objectives of the League of Nations.
Ans: The aims and objectives of the League of Nations were:

Maintenance of international peace: The main aim of the League was to maintain peace and prevent wars among nations.
Peaceful settlement of disputes: It encouraged countries to settle disputes peacefully through negotiation, discussion, and arbitration.
Promotion of disarmament: The League worked to reduce armaments and encouraged countries to limit their military strength.
Promotion of international cooperation: It promoted cooperation among countries in economic, social, and political matters.
Protection of smaller nations: The League helped protect the independence and rights of smaller countries.
Improvement of labour conditions: Through the International Labour Organisation, it worked to improve working conditions of labourers.
Promotion of health and welfare: It worked to improve health conditions and social welfare of people.
Creation of world peace: Its overall objective was to create a peaceful and cooperative international community.

3. Write about the structure of the United Nations.
Ans: The United Nations Organisation has a well-organised structure consisting of six main organs. These are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat. The General Assembly is the main deliberative body and includes representatives of all member countries, each having one vote. The Security Council is the most powerful organ and is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It consists of five permanent members and ten non-permanent members. The Economic and Social Council promotes economic and social development and coordinates the work of specialised agencies. The Trusteeship Council was established to supervise trust territories and help them achieve independence. The International Court of Justice is the judicial organ of the United Nations and settles legal disputes between countries. The Secretariat is the administrative organ, headed by the Secretary-General, who carries out the day-to-day work of the organisation. These organs work together to achieve the aims of the United Nations.

4. Write about the functions of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Ans: The functions of the General Assembly are:

Promotion of cooperation: It provides a platform for countries to express their views and promote international cooperation.
Main deliberative organ: It is the main discussion body of the United Nations Organisation.
Membership: It consists of representatives of all member countries, and each country has one vote.
Discussion of international issues: It discusses important matters such as peace, security, and development.
Admission of new members: It admits new countries to the United Nations on the recommendation of the Security Council.
Election of members: It elects non-permanent members of the Security Council and members of other UN organs.
Approval of budget: It approves the budget of the United Nations Organisation.
Supervision: It supervises the work and activities of the United Nations.

5. What is the nature of the united nations?
Ans: The United Nations Organisation is an international organisation formed to maintain peace and promote cooperation among countries. Its nature is international, democratic, and cooperative. It is international because it includes member countries from all parts of the world. It is democratic because each member country has equal voting rights in the General Assembly. The United Nations works on the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes and does not interfere in the internal affairs of member states. It promotes social, economic, and cultural development through its specialised agencies. The organisation also works to protect human rights, promote justice, and maintain global peace and security. It encourages cooperation among nations in solving international problems such as poverty, disease, and conflict. Thus, the United Nations is a peace-loving organisation dedicated to maintaining harmony and cooperation in the world.