October 1935. Italian tanks, planes, and poison gas attack a country with spears and outdated rifles. Mussolini wants an African empire — revenge for Italy's humiliating defeat by Abyssinia at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. Emperor Haile Selassie makes an emotional appeal to the League of Nations: "It is us today. It will be you tomorrow." He was right. Britain and France were too scared of pushing Mussolini into Hitler's arms to stop him. The Hoare-Laval Pact secretly proposed giving Mussolini most of what he wanted. When it leaked, the scandal destroyed any remaining faith in the League. By May 1936, Abyssinia was conquered. The League was dead.
This introduction covers Setting the Scene within Abyssinia Crisis for GCSE History. Revise Abyssinia Crisis in Conflict and Tension 1918-1939 for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 1 of 15 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Abyssinia Crisis
What was the Wal-Wal Incident of December 1934?
What did the Hoare-Laval Pact propose?
Quick recall flashcards
Why did sanctions fail?
No oil ban, Suez Canal stayed open, USA not in League
What was the Hoare-Laval Pact?
Secret deal to give Italy 2/3 of Abyssinia — leaked, both ministers resigned