The Abyssinian crisis Cambridge IGCSE History revision
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In plain words
Manchuria was far away and easy to shrug off. Abyssinia was not. It was next to British and French colonies, beside the Suez Canal, and it was attacked by a founder of the League. If the League could not act here, it could not act anywhere.
8 things to know
- Mussolini, the dictator of Italy, wanted an empire and military glory. Abyssinia, now called Ethiopia, lay between two Italian colonies in East Africa, and Italy had been defeated there in 1896.
- In December 1934 there was a clash between Italian and Abyssinian troops at the Wal-Wal oasis. Mussolini used it as an excuse to prepare an invasion. The Abyssinian emperor, Haile Selassie, appealed to the League.
- Britain and France wanted to keep Mussolini as an ally against Hitler, so for months they did little.
- In October 1935 Italy invaded, using tanks, aircraft and poison gas.
- The League condemned Italy and imposed sanctions. It banned the sale of weapons and some goods to Italy. It did not ban oil, which Italy needed most, and Britain and France did not close the Suez Canal to Italian ships.
- In December 1935 the British and French foreign ministers made a secret plan, the Hoare–Laval Pact, to give Mussolini most of Abyssinia. It was leaked to the press. The public was outraged and the plan was dropped, but the League's leaders had been shown to be going behind its back.
- In March 1936 Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland. France now wanted Italy's support more than ever. In May 1936 Italy took the capital, Addis Ababa, and the sanctions were ended soon after.
- Consequences: collective security had failed completely. Small countries knew that the League could not protect them. Mussolini moved closer to Hitler, and Hitler concluded that Britain and France would not fight.
Worked example
"The Abyssinian crisis was more damaging to the League than the Manchurian crisis." How far do you agree? Plan a 10-mark answer.
- Abyssinia: it was close to Europe, Britain and France could have acted by closing the Suez Canal or banning oil, and the Hoare–Laval Pact showed that they were betraying the League. After it, the League was ignored.
- Manchuria: it came first, and showed that a great power could defy the League and keep what it had seized. It encouraged Mussolini.
- Judgement: Abyssinia was more damaging, because the League had every chance to act and chose not to. Manchuria wounded the League, and Abyssinia finished it.
Tips and tricks
- The two missing sanctions are the key facts: no ban on oil, and the Suez Canal left open. Either would have stopped the invasion.
- Hoare–Laval is the name to remember. It shows that Britain and France put their own interests above the League.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
The Abyssinian crisis: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
Who was the emperor of Abyssinia?
He appealed to the League for help.
Which vital product was left out of the sanctions against Italy?
Without oil the invasion would have stopped.
When did Italy invade Abyssinia?
The Wal-Wal clash, the excuse for it, was in December 1934.
Which waterway could Britain and France have closed to stop Italian supplies?
It was Italy's route to East Africa.
Why did Hitler's march into the Rhineland in March 1936 help Mussolini?Stretch
France now feared Germany more than ever.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 16 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
The Abyssinian crisis
Cambridge IGCSE History 0470 · 16 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
What was the Hoare–Laval Pact?[4]
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It was a secret plan made in December 1935 by the British and French foreign ministers. It proposed giving Mussolini about two-thirds of Abyssinia if he stopped the war. It was leaked to the press. There was a public outcry, and the plan was dropped.
Why were the League's sanctions against Italy ineffective?[6]
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They did not include oil, which Italy needed to keep its army moving, because members feared that the USA would not support a ban. The Suez Canal, Italy's supply route, was not closed. The sanctions were introduced slowly, which gave Italy time. Britain and France did not want to push Mussolini towards Hitler.
Why did Britain and France not take strong action against Mussolini?[6]
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They wanted to keep Italy as an ally against Hitler, whose power was growing. They feared that strong action, such as closing the Suez Canal, could lead to war with Italy. They were also suffering from the Depression, and did not want to damage their own trade.
Answers: The Abyssinian crisis
- 1. It was a secret plan made in December 1935 by the British and French foreign ministers. It proposed giving Mussolini about two-thirds of Abyssinia if he stopped the war. It was leaked to the press. There was a public outcry, and the plan was dropped.
- 2. They did not include oil, which Italy needed to keep its army moving, because members feared that the USA would not support a ban. The Suez Canal, Italy's supply route, was not closed. The sanctions were introduced slowly, which gave Italy time. Britain and France did not want to push Mussolini towards Hitler.
- 3. They wanted to keep Italy as an ally against Hitler, whose power was growing. They feared that strong action, such as closing the Suez Canal, could lead to war with Italy. They were also suffering from the Depression, and did not want to damage their own trade.