The document provides the text of a speech given by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge in 1919 arguing against the United States joining the League of Nations. Lodge gives three main reasons: 1) America should focus on its own interests and problems rather than get tangled in European intrigues, which could destroy its power to do good; 2) Getting involved in Europe could endanger America's existence by drawing it into another European war; 3) America has its own grim and perilous problems to solve, and solving them could largely benefit mankind. The document then provides a question asking what reasons are given in the source for America's failure to join the League of Nations.

1. LEAGUE OF NATIONS
EXAM PRACTICE 2
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
SOURCES

2. SOURCE A
SPEECH BY A LEADING REPUBLICAN SENATOR, HENRY CABOT
LODGE.
You may call me selfish if you will, but an American I was born, an
American I have remained all my life. I can never be anything else but an
American, and I must think of the United States of America first. The
United States is the world’s best hope, but if you tangle her in the
intrigues of Europe, you will destroy her power for good and endanger her
very existence. She has great problems of her own to solve, very grim and
perilous problems, and a right solution, if we can attain to it, would largely
benefit mankind.
Delivered on 12 August, 1919.
QUESTION: What reasons are given in Source A for
America’s failure to join the League of Nations? (3
marks)

3. SOURCE A
Just 3 marks up for grabs here, so you have to make it short but sweet.
Think of 3 main ideas extracted from the speech and write a log sentence for
each of these ideas.
- America should be concerned with her own interests – concern
for European problems would only weaken America’s power to
do real good later.
- Fear of getting involved in another European war.
- America has a lot of problems of its own to solve.