Did the United States join the League of Nations after World War I?

• A. Yes, the United States joined to participate in collective security
• B. Yes, but only after the Senate ratified the treaty
• C. No, the Senate rejected the treaty fearing entangling alliances
• D. No, the U.S. joined a separate alliance instead

Answer: (C)

The important idea here is that the United States did not become a member of the League of Nations after World War I because the Senate refused to ratify the peace treaty that created the League. The Treaty of Versailles included the Covenant of the League, and many senators, led by Henry Cabot Lodge, feared that joining would drag the U.S. into international conflicts and force the country to accept obligations without the Senate’s approval for war declarations. Because the Senate never ratified the treaty, the United States did not join the League.

That’s why this choice is the best: it directly states that the Senate rejected the treaty over entangling-alliance concerns, which is the historical reason the U.S. remained out. The other options would imply U.S. membership or a separate alliance that did not exist.