United Nations (UN) | Definition, History, Founders, Flag, & Facts

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data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/topic/United-Nations">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref12399"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations#ref12399">History and development</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref12400"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Organization-and-administration">Organization and administration</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref12401"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Organization-and-administration#ref12401">Principles and membership</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref12402"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Principal-organs">Principal organs</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12403"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Principal-organs#ref12403">General Assembly</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12404"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Principal-organs#ref12404">Security Council</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12405"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Economic-and-Social-Council">Economic and Social Council</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12406"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Economic-and-Social-Council#ref12406">Trusteeship Council</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12407"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Economic-and-Social-Council#ref12407">International Court of Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12408"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Economic-and-Social-Council#ref12408">Secretariat</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref12409"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Subsidiary-organs">Subsidiary organs</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225027"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Subsidiary-organs#ref225027">Specialized agencies</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225014"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Subsidiary-organs#ref225014">Global conferences</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225015"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Subsidiary-organs#ref225015">Administration</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref225016"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Subsidiary-organs#ref225016">Finances</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref225017"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Subsidiary-organs#ref225017">Privileges and immunities</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref225018"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Subsidiary-organs#ref225018">Headquarters</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref12416"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Functions">Functions</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225019"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Functions#ref225019">Maintenance of international peace and security</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref225020"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Peacekeeping-peacemaking-and-peace-building">Peacekeeping, peacemaking, and peace building</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref225021"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Peacekeeping-peacemaking-and-peace-building#ref225021">Sanctions and military action</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225022"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Arms-control-and-disarmament">Arms control and disarmament</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref12420"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Economic-welfare-and-cooperation">Economic welfare and cooperation</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12421"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Economic-welfare-and-cooperation#ref12421">Economic reconstruction</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12422"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Economic-welfare-and-cooperation#ref12422">Financing economic development</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12423"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Economic-welfare-and-cooperation#ref12423">Trade and development</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref12424"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Social-welfare-and-cooperation">Social welfare and cooperation</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12425"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Social-welfare-and-cooperation#ref12425">Refugees</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12426"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Human-rights">Human rights</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12427"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Human-rights#ref12427">Control of narcotics</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12428"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Human-rights#ref12428">Health and welfare issues</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref12429"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/The-environment">The environment</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref12430"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/The-environment#ref12430">Dependent areas</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref12434"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/The-environment#ref12434">Development of international law</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref225028"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Assessment">Assessment</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref274899"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/United-Nations/Assessment#ref274899">United Nations members</a></div><div class="ml-40 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.gicj.org/positions-opinons/gicj-positions-and-opinions/1279-united-nations-day-24-october-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Geneva International Centre for Justice - United Nations Day - 24 October</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-united-states-and-the-founding-of-the-united-nations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Jewish Virtual Library - United Nations: The United States and the Founding of the United Nations</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-the-united-nations-and-how-does-it-work-3306118" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The Balance - The United Nations and How it Works</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.un.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Official Site of the United Nations</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/United-Nations/353885" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/United-Nations/277510" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: UN</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Karen-Mingst/5418" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Karen Mingst</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington. Author of <em>Essentials of International Relations. </em>Coauthor of <em>The United Nations in the Post-Cold War Era</em>.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Karen Mingst</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Jacques-Fomerand/5568" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Jacques Fomerand</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Director, United Nations University, New York. Coauthor of <i>Higher Education in Western Europe and North America: A Selected and Annotated Bibliography</i>.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Jacques Fomerand</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-25T00:00:00CST" >Nov 25, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Awards And Honors: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/Nobel-Prize">Nobel Prize</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Date: </dt> <dd>October 24, 1945 - present</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Headquarters: </dt> <dd><a href="/place/New-York-City">New York City</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Areas Of Involvement: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/human-rights">human rights</a></dd> <dd><a href="/money/economic-development">economic development</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/international-relations">international relations</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/equality-human-rights">equality</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/trust-territory">trust territory</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related People: </dt> <dd><a href="/biography/Nadia-Murad">Nadia Murad</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Franklin-D-Roosevelt">Franklin D. Roosevelt</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/George-H-W-Bush">George H.W. Bush</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Fridtjof-Nansen">Fridtjof Nansen</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Eleanor-Roosevelt">Eleanor Roosevelt</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/United-Nations"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="ai-top-questions-module with-dotted-border module-spacing ai-tq collapsed font-sans-serif"> <div class="font-weight-bold font-16"> Top Questions </div> <ul class="mt-5"> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded "> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="0"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">What is the United Nations?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded "> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="1"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">When was the United Nations founded, and why?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded "> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="2"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">What are the main goals of the United Nations?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded af3"> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="3"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">How many member countries are part of the United Nations?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded af3"> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="4"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">What are the main bodies or branches of the United Nations, and what do they do?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded af3"> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="5"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">How does the United Nations work to maintain international peace and security?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded af3"> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="6"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">What role does the United Nations play in promoting human rights?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded af3"> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="7"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">How does the United Nations support sustainable development and humanitarian efforts?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded af3"> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="8"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">What are some of the challenges faced by the United Nations in achieving its goals?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> <li class="ai-qa-item mb-5 bg-gray-50 rounded af3"> <div class="ai-top-question font-14 font-weight-semi-bold px-10 py-5 rounded " data-qn="9"> <span class="question d-inline-flex align-items-center">How can individuals and countries contribute to the United Nations' mission?</span> </div> <div class="answer p-10 ui-hidden" data-loaded="false"></div> <div class="ai-loader ui-hidden" /> </li> </ul> <button class="show-more btn btn-unstyled font-14 p-5 pr-10 mb-10 rounded-sm d-none"><em class="material-icons " data-icon="expand_more"></em> Show more</button> <button class="show-less btn btn-unstyled font-14 p-5 pr-10 mb-10 rounded-sm"><em class="material-icons " data-icon="expand_less"></em> Show less</button> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span 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additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref368908"></span>United Nations (UN)</strong>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/international-organization" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">international organization</a> established on October 24, 1945. The United Nations (UN) was the second multipurpose international organization established in the 20th century that was worldwide in scope and membership. Its predecessor, the <span id="ref368909"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/League-of-Nations" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">League of Nations</a>, was created by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Treaty-of-Versailles-1919" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Treaty of Versailles</a> in 1919 and disbanded in 1946. Headquartered in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-City" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">New York City</a>, the UN also has regional offices in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Geneva-Switzerland" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Geneva</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Vienna" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Vienna</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Nairobi" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Nairobi</a>. Its official languages are <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arabic-language" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Arabic</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chinese-languages" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Chinese</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/English-language" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">English</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/French-language" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">French</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Russian-language" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Russian</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spanish-language" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Spanish</a>. For a list of UN member countries and secretaries-general, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations/Assessment#ref274899" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"><em>see below</em></a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><em><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations-Foundation" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">(Read Ted Turner’s Britannica entry on the U.N. Foundation.)</a></em></p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">According to its <span id="ref368910"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Charter-of-the-United-Nations" class="md-crosslink ">Charter</a>, the UN aims:</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><blockquote> <p>to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,…to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights,…to establish conditions under which <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="justice" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justice" data-type="MW">justice</a> and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/international-law" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">international law</a> can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.</p> </blockquote><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In addition to maintaining peace and security, other important objectives include developing friendly relations among countries based on respect for the principles of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/equality-human-rights" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">equal rights</a> and self-determination of peoples; achieving worldwide cooperation to solve international economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems; respecting and promoting <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/human-rights" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">human rights</a>; and serving as a centre where countries can coordinate their actions and activities toward these various ends.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/43-questions-about-politics-law-and-government-compiled-from-britannicas-quizzes" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/215905-131-626D860A/Encyclopaedia-Britannica-thistle-graphic-logo.jpg" alt="Encyclopaedia Britannica thistle graphic to be used with a Mendel/Consumer quiz in place of a photograph." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">43 Questions About Politics (Mostly in the United States) Compiled from Britannica’s Quizzes</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The UN formed a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="continuum" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continuum" data-type="MW">continuum</a> with the League of Nations in general purpose, structure, and functions; many of the UN’s principal organs and related agencies were adopted from similar structures established earlier in the century. In some respects, however, the UN <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="constituted" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constituted" data-type="MW">constituted</a> a very different organization, especially with regard to its objective of maintaining international peace and security and its commitment to economic and social development.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Changes in the nature of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/international-relations" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">international relations</a> resulted in modifications in the responsibilities of the UN and its decision-making apparatus. <span id="ref368912"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Cold-War" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cold War</a> tensions between the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United States</a> and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Soviet-Union" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Soviet Union</a> deeply affected the UN’s security functions during its first 45 years. Extensive post-<a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/decolonization" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">decolonization</a> in Africa, Asia, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Middle-East" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Middle East</a> increased the volume and nature of political, economic, and social issues that confronted the organization. The Cold War’s end in 1991 brought renewed attention and appeals to the UN. Amid an increasingly volatile geopolitical climate, there were new challenges to established practices and functions, especially in the areas of conflict resolution and humanitarian assistance. At the beginning of the 21st century, the UN and its programs and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="affiliated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affiliated" data-type="MW">affiliated</a> agencies struggled to address humanitarian crises and civil wars, unprecedented <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/refugee" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">refugee</a> flows, the devastation caused by the spread of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/AIDS" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">AIDS</a>, global financial disruptions, international <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/terrorism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">terrorism</a>, and the disparities in wealth between the world’s richest and poorest peoples.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref12399"> <h2 class="h1">History and development</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Despite the problems encountered by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/League-of-Nations" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">League of Nations</a> in arbitrating conflict and ensuring international peace and security prior to World War II, the major <span id="ref368913"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Allied-powers-World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Allied powers</a> agreed during the war to establish a new global organization to help manage international affairs. This agreement was first <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="articulated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/articulated" data-type="MW">articulated</a> when U.S. President <span id="ref368914"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Franklin-D-Roosevelt" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Franklin D. Roosevelt</a> and British Prime Minister <span id="ref368915"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Winston-Churchill" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Winston Churchill</a> signed the <span id="ref368916"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Atlantic-Charter" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Atlantic Charter</a> in August 1941. The name United Nations was originally used to denote the countries allied against <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Germany</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Italy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Italy</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Japan</a>. On January 1, 1942, 26 countries signed the <span id="ref368917"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Declaration-of-United-Nations" class="md-crosslink ">Declaration by United Nations</a>, which set forth the war aims of the Allied powers.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The <span id="ref368918"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United States</a>, the <span id="ref368919"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Kingdom</a>, and the <span id="ref368920"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Soviet-Union" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Soviet Union</a> took the lead in designing the new organization and determining its decision-making structure and functions. Initially, the “Big Three” states and their respective leaders (Roosevelt, Churchill, and Soviet premier <span id="ref368921"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Stalin" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Joseph Stalin</a>) were hindered by disagreements on issues that foreshadowed the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Cold-War" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cold War</a>. The Soviet Union demanded individual membership and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/voting-rights" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">voting rights</a> for its <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="constituent" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constituent" data-type="MW">constituent</a> republics, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Britain</a> wanted <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="assurances" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assurances" data-type="MW">assurances</a> that its colonies would not be placed under UN control. There also was disagreement over the voting system to be adopted in the <span id="ref368923"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations-Security-Council" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Security Council</a>, an issue that became famous as the “veto problem.”</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The first major step toward the formation of the United Nations was taken August 21–October 7, 1944, at the <span id="ref368924"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Dumbarton-Oaks-Conference" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dumbarton Oaks Conference</a>, a meeting of the diplomatic experts of the Big Three powers plus <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/China" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">China</a> (a group often designated the “Big Four”) held at <span id="ref1267929"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dumbarton-Oaks" class="md-crosslink ">Dumbarton Oaks</a>, an estate in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Washington-DC" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Washington, D.C.</a> Although the four countries agreed on the general purpose, structure, and function of a new world organization, the conference ended amid continuing disagreement over membership and voting. At the <span id="ref368926"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Yalta-Conference" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Yalta Conference</a>, a meeting of the Big Three in a Crimean resort city in February 1945, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin laid the basis for charter provisions delimiting the authority of the Security Council. Moreover, they reached a tentative accord on the number of Soviet republics to be granted independent memberships in the UN. Finally, the three leaders agreed that the new organization would include a <span id="ref368927"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/trusteeship-system" class="md-crosslink ">trusteeship system</a> to succeed the League of Nations <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/mandate-League-of-Nations" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mandate</a> system.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The Dumbarton Oaks proposals, with modifications from the Yalta Conference, formed the basis of negotiations at the <span id="ref368928"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/San-Francisco-Conference" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Nations Conference on International Organization</a> (UNCIO), which <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="convened" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convened" data-type="MW">convened</a> in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/San-Francisco-California" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">San Francisco</a> on April 25, 1945, and produced the final Charter of the United Nations. The San Francisco conference was attended by representatives of 50 countries from all geographic areas of the world: 9 from Europe, 21 from the Americas, 7 from the Middle East, 2 from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/East-Asia" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">East Asia</a>, and 3 from Africa, as well as 1 each from the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (in addition to the Soviet Union itself) and 5 from British <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Commonwealth-association-of-states" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Commonwealth</a> countries. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Poland</a>, which was not present at the conference, was permitted to become an original member of the UN. Security Council <span id="ref368929"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/veto" class="md-crosslink ">veto</a> power (among the permanent members) was affirmed, though any member of the General Assembly was able to raise issues for discussion. Other political issues resolved by compromise were the role of the organization in the promotion of economic and social welfare; the status of colonial areas and the distribution of trusteeships; the status of regional and defense arrangements; and Great Power dominance versus the equality of states. The UN Charter was unanimously adopted and signed on June 26 and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="promulgated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/promulgated" data-type="MW">promulgated</a> on October 24, 1945.</p><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":14,"pageId":616264,"pageLength":1035,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"D","adLeg":"D","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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