DOE Lesson Plan - 7th Grade - Worksheet: The British Mandate

Worksheet: The British Mandate

December 1922

Cover page of League of Nations "Mandate for Palestine"

 Mandate for Palestine

The Council of the League of Nations:

Whereas the Principal Allied Powers have agreed, for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, to entrust to a Mandatory selected by the said Powers the administration of the territory of Palestine, which formerly belonged to the Turkish Empire, within such boundaries as may be fixed by them; and

Whereas the Principal Allied Powers have also agreed that the Mandatory should be responsible for putting into effect the declaration originally made on November 2nd, 1917, by the Government of His Britannic Majesty, and adopted by the said Powers, in favor of the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, it being clearly understood that nothing should be done which might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country; and

Whereas recognition has thereby been given to the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and to the grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country; and

Whereas the Principal Allied Powers have selected His Britannic Majesty as the Mandatory for Palestine; …

Document Discovery

  • What is the date of this document?
     
  • Paragraph 1
    • Who is responsible for creating this mandate?
    • Before World War I, who controlled Palestine?
    • Who gets to draw the new boundaries of Palestine?
       
  • Paragraph 2
    • What document is referred to here (November 2nd 1917)?
    • What do you notice about the language here and the language in the document referred to (November 2nd, 1917)?
       
  • Paragraph 3
    • Why are the Jewish people being given permission to reestablish their national home in Palestine?
       
  • Paragraph 4
    • To whom has the League of Nations and the Allied Powers given control (the Mandatory) of Palestine?