Origins of United Nations

1. War, Peace and the United Nations Origins of United Nations

2. Pair-Share • What do you know about the United Nations? • If you don’t know much about the United Nations, what do you think it is based upon the name itself?

3. 1941: Atlantic Charter • The Atlantic Charter outlined a vision of the postwar world that would set up an international organization serving as the arbiter of disputes • All of the principles outlined were strongly supported by FDR, whereas Churchill & Stalin were only committed to some of those principles by the last year of the war • It was only after four more years of fighting World War Two and the great devastation of the war that Churchill and Stalin came around to Roosevelt’s position.

4. Allied wartime diplomacy illustrated that the Big Three could not settle their basic disagreements

5. The Four Policemen • World peace was to be maintained by what Roosevelt described as the “four policemen”-the US, UK, USSR and China, acting together to prevent conflict • These four policemen, along with France, became the five permanent members of the UN Security Council • The USSR initially opposed China’s inclusion as one of the “policemen”, but Roosevelt insisted. Churchill was not happy about it either.

6. Three of the “Policemen” at Yalta in 1945

7. Steps Leading Up To Decision To Create UN • The leaders of the Allies met during the spring and summer of 1945 to discuss what should happen to the world once World War Two ended. • Many issues were addressed regarding how to end the war with Japan, rebuilding the war-torn countries, and what could be done to prevent World War Three. • This is where the United Nations came in.

8. 1945: Yalta Conference • The Big Three agreed on • Soviet entrance into the Pacific war after Germany had been defeated • U.S. wanted to have the Soviet Union participate in the projected invasion of Japan because it could reduce the number of American casualties • Creation of a United Nations to preserve world peace after the end of the war • Division of Germany into four zones of occupation based on the positions of troops at the end of the war

9. The United Nations was created at the end of the Second World War, replacing the League of Nations • US President Franklin D Roosevelt was a driving force behind the creation of the United Nations • The name “United Nations” was used by Roosevelt to describe the alliance fighting the Axis powers in World War Two.

10. “The (UN) charter points down the only road to enduring peace. There is no other.” - President Harry S. Truman 1945

11. Pair-Share • Why do you think it took the devastation of World War Two for universal support of a peace-keeping body?

13. Creation of the United Nations • In April 1945, delegates from fifty countries met in San Francisco full of optimism and hope. • The goal of the United Nations Conference on International Organization was to fashion an international body to promote peace and prevent future wars. • The ideals of the organization were stated in the preamble to its proposed charter: • “We the peoples of the United Nations are determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind.”

14. The Birth of the United Nations • 26 June 1945, representatives of 50 countries sign the charter of the United Nations at a conference in San Francisco • UN officially comes into existence on 24 October 1945 - now celebrated as United Nations Day

15. 1945: The United Nations • The United Nations Charter states the goals and purposes of the organization: • To maintain international peace and security • Develop friendly relations among nations • To be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these common ends

16. Eleanor Roosevelt • FDR’s wife • Founding member of UN • One of the first U.S. ambassadors to the UN • Pair-Share: What do you think the message of is for this political cartoon? Why?

17. Pair-Share • The next few slides have primary source quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt about the role of the United Nations. • What is the theme that is repeated in the quotes? • Why do you think that is? • Do you agree or disagree with the idea?

18. “ Security requires both control of the use of force and the elimination of want.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

19. “No people are secure unless they have the things needed not only to preserve existence, but to make life worth living …” -Eleanor Roosevelt

20. All peoples of the world must know there is an organization where their interests can be considered and where justice and security will be sought for all.”- Eleanor Roosevelt

22. Development of the Concept of Human Rights

23. Pair-Share • Before we examine the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, what rights do you think should be included in the document and why?

24. Human Rights Documentary: 9 minutes and 30 seconds http://www.humanrights.com/what-are-human-rights.html

25. Definition of Human Rights • HUMAN RIGHTS are the rights that all people have by virtue of being human beings. • HUMAN RIGHTS are derived from the inherent dignity of the human person and are defined internationally, nationally and locally by various law making bodies.

27. The Preamble to the Charter WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED • to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and • to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and • to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and • to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

28. Brief History of Development of Human Rights • Enlightenment • English Petition of Right (1628) • English Bill of Rights (1689) • U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776) • United States Constitution and Bill of Rights (1789) • French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789)

29. The Petition of Right • The Petition of Right, produced in 1628 by the English Parliament and sent to Charles I as a statement of civil liberties. • Refusal by Parliament to finance the king’s unpopular foreign policy had caused the king to exact forced loans and to quarter troops in subjects’ houses as an economy measure. • Opposition to these measures resulted in arbitrary arrest and imprisonment • The Petition of Right was Parliament's way to demand changes from the king

30. 4 Principles of Petition of Right 1) No taxes may be levied without consent of Parliament. 2) No subject may be imprisoned without cause shown (habeus corpus) 3) No soldiers may be quartered upon the citizenry. 4) Martial law may not be used in time of peace.

31. English Bill of Rights • After supporters of Parliament won the English Civil War (caused partially by the king's refusal to sign the Petition of Right), Charles II was forced to sign the English Bill of Rights • Statement of certain positive rights that citizens and/or residents of a constitutional monarchy should have.

32. English Bill of Rights • Asserts subjects’ rights to petition the Monarch and to bear arms for defence • Parliament must meet regularlly • The king cannot do certain things without the consent of the governed (using democratic institutions)

33. Declaration of Independence • On July 4, 1776, the American Continential Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. • Its primary author, Thomas Jefferson, wrote the Declaration as a formal explanation of why the Colonists declared independence from Great Britain • Philosophically, the Declaration stressed two themes: • Individual rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) • Right of revolution when these rights are volated by a government • These ideas became widely held by Americans and spread internationally as well - influencing revolutions ever since (particularly the French Revolution)

34. Constitution and Bill of Rights • Written during the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, the Constitution of the United States of America is the fundamental law of the US federal system of government and the landmark document of the Western world. • It is the oldest written national constitution in use and defines the structure of government and the basic rights of citizens. • The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights • The Bill of Rights protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, the freedom of assembly and the freedom to petition. • It also prohibits unreasonable search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishment and compelled self-incrimination. • Prohibits Congress from making any law respecting establishment of religion and prohibits the federal government from depriving any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law. • In federal criminal cases it guarantees a speedy public trial with an impartial jury and prohibits double jeopardy.

35. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen • In 1789 the people of France brought about the abolishment of the absolute monarchy and set the stage for the establishment of the first French Republic. • The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (French: La Déclaration des Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen) was adopted by the National Constituent Assembly as the first step toward writing a constitution for the Republic of France.

36. Pair-Share Activity • In the next slide, there are a few primary source quotes from the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. • How do they reflect the ideas of the Enlightenment? • How are they similar to American documents? Which ones?

37. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen • The Declaration proclaims that all citizens are to be guaranteed the rights of “liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.” It argues that the need for law derives from the fact that “...the exercise of the natural rights of each man has only those borders which assure other members of the society the enjoyment of these same rights.” • Thus, the Declaration sees law as an “expression of the general will,“ intended to promote this equality of rights and to forbid “only actions harmful to the society.”

38. Brief History of Development of Human Rights • Early Developments (cont.) • International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (1863) • Geneva Convention (1864) • Hague Conventions (1899 and 1907) • League of Nations (1919) • International Labor Organization (1919)

39. International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent • Formed in 1863 to treat and care for those injured in armed conflict • Expanded to include disaster relief and large-scale emergencies • Currently exists in 188 different countries

40. Geneva Conventions • In 1864, sixteen European countries and several American states attended a conference in Geneva, Switzerland • The diplomatic conference was held for the purpose of adopting a convention for the treatment of wounded soldiers in combat. • The main principles laid down at this and future Conventions: • obligation to extend care without discrimination to wounded and sick military personnel • rules on treatment and keeping of prisoners of war (POWs) • respect for and marking of medical personnel transports and equipment with the distinctive sign of the red cross on a white background

41. Hague Conventions • An attempt to create an international court to settle disputes and avoid war • Attempted to create acceptable "Rules of War" to deal with the new more deadly weapons that were being developed • Created new rules for maritime conflict as well • This was the first modern effort to create a binding agreement to try and avoid the potential massive loss of life that was seen in the US Civil War

42. International Labor Organization • Part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I • Based on the idea that a lasting peace must be based on social justice • Hardships created by poor working conditions and low wages lead to unrest among working classes • Helped to create international agreements to improve the lives of workers around the world

43. League of Nations • Also part of the Treaty of Versailles • Key part of the Treaty proposed by US President Woodrow Wilson • Its Covenant, or Charter, included: • preventing wars through collective security • disarmament • settling international disputes through negotiation and arbitration

44. League of Nations • Formed in 1920 • 58 Nations joined the League - theUnited States never did! • The League became a place where nations could bring grievences and discuss them in open • The League did not have its own armed forces and relyed on member nations to enforce its resolutions • After some early success, the League proved to be ineffective as nations fell back into the practrice of placing their own interests first • The failure of the League of Nations influenced the structure and power of the United Nations

45. Brief History on Development of Human Rights • Aftermath of World War II • The Nuremberg Trials (1945-1946) • Tokyo Tribunals (1946-1948)

46. Nuremberg Trials Defendants Judges

47. Nuremberg Trials • The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals (3 judges) meant to prosecute leading Nazis for “Crimes Against Humanity” • 24 members of the surviving leadership of the Nazi party were charged (Adolph Hitler and Josef Goebbels had committed suicide) Some of the most notorious: Rudolf Hess Alfred Jodl Ernst Kaltenbrunner Herman Goring Wilhelm Keitel

48. Nuremberg Trials • Prosecutors had to follow strict laws of evidence and defendants had legal teams to assist them • 12 sentenced to death by hanging • 3 life in prison • 4 prison for 10-20 years • 3 acquitted • 2 never faced trial • (1 committed suicide after his trial began; 1 was old and very ill so deemed unfit for trial)

49. Tokyo Tribunals Defendants Judges

50. Tokyo Tribunals • Just as with Nuremberg, those responsible for Japanese atrocities stood trial for • “murdering, maiming, and ill-treating prisoners of war and civilians • forced labor under “inhumane conditions” • “plundering public and private property” • perpetrating “mass murder, rape…torture and other barbaric cruelties…” • 27 high ranking military and government officers were convicted and sentenced to prison or death