Why did some members of congress oppose joining the league of nations after World War 1?

Answer 1

Because they did not want to get involved in world affairs and be drawn into another European war, they sought an isolationist policy.

Senator William E. Borah was considered America's greatest orator of the 20th Century. Also known as the "Lion of Idaho" and "The Great Opposer", Borah was opposed to the League of Nations because of loss of national sovereignty, freedom of all people (including Americans) around the world, and the making of continuous war in the name of peace.

From Borah's November 19, 1919 speech in the Senate:

"...It imperils what I conceive to be the underlying, the very first principles of the Republic. It is in conflict with the right of our people to govern themselves free from all restraint, legal or moral, of foreign powers..."

"...We may become one of the four dictators of the world, but we shall no longer be master of our own spirit. And what shall it profit us as a nation if we shall go forth to the dominion of the earth and share with others the glory of world control and lose that fine sense of confidence in the people, the soul of democracy..."

"...When this league, this combination, is formed four great powers representing the dominant people will rule one-half of the inhabitants of the globe as subject peoples--rule by force, and we shall be a party to the rule of force. There is no other way you can keep people in subjection. You must either give them independence, recognize their rights as nations to live their own life and to set up their own form of government, or you must deny them these things by force. That is the scheme, the methods proposed by the league..."

"...Peace upon any other basis than national independence, peace purchased at the cost of any part of our national sovereignty, is fit only for slaves, and even when purchased at such a price it is a delusion, for it cannot last..."

"...But your treaty does not mean peace--far very far from it. If we judge the future by the past it means war. Is there any guaranty of peace other than the guaranty which comes of the control of the war making power by the people? Yet what great rule of democracy does the treaty leave un-assailed? The people in whose keeping alone you can safely lodge the power of peace or war nowhere, at no time and in no place, have any voice in this scheme for world peace. Autocracy which has bathed the world in blood for centuries reigns supreme. Democracy is everywhere excluded. This, you say, means peace..."
Senators that wanted to become the next president of the U.S. believed that the triumph would hurt their campaign chances.

Answer 2

While Woodrow Wilson thought it was a good idea, and believed it would help to promote world peace, that view was not shared in congress, where Wilson, a Democrat, had some political enemies. A number of conservatives, led by Republican Senate Leader Henry Cabot Lodge, were fearful of giving up US sovereignty to foreign powers. As these congressmen saw it, the League would weaken the US and be able to influence American foreign policy. Wilson insisted this was not true, but Lodge did everything he could to prevent the Treaty of Versailles from being ratified, and he played a large part in making sure the US did not join the League.

Answer 3

Americans opposed joining the League of Nations because they didn't want America to be involved with other countries' affairs.