The United NationsEst 1945

The United Nations Est. at the end of

WWII. 1945. Initial goal of the UN

was to secure peace and stop future wars.

Colors associated with UN = light blue and white. (UN troops wear this color – helmets, arm bands)

United Nations

The forerunner to the UN was the League of Nations.

League of Nations formed after WWI (1918)

The problem w/ the League of Nations = they were set upon

principals of revenge -- not preventive help.

Too slow w/ decisions USA did NOT join Did NOT enforce what

they said they would. ..ie GERMANY

WWI – Austria-Hungry,

Germany, Ottoman Empire.

VS Serbia, Russia,

Britain, France, USA, Japan

The war, in essence, was over GERMANY wanting to sit at the big boy table

And countries wanting more LAND….= ….POWER

League of Nations

Why did the US not join the League of Nations?

Background: Woodrow Wilson –

President of USA – proposed League of Nations

President Wilson had 14 points to stop all wars. Europe mocked him “God needed 10,

you need 4 more than God.”

Europe only accepted 1 point, the league of nations.

United Nations

51 original countries/ members (met in San Francisco & agreed to UN)

193 current members Main Headquarters – New

York Land donated by John D

Rockefeller JR. …$8 million donation in 1946

6 official languages of UN Arabic, Chinese, English,

French, Russian, and Spanish.

Main Organs…like branches of government

1. General Assembly – MAIN policymaking and representative group of UN.

Every Spetember FULL UN meets in G.A. Hall (193 countries).

New member admission, peace, security, other debate questions need 2/3 majority vote in G.A.

Main Organs…like branches of government 2. Security Council

PRIMARY responsibility for maintenance of INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY.

15 members (5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members)

Each member has one vote.

Can impose sanctions (grounded) or even authorize force to maintain and restore international peace and security.

Security Council 5 Permanent Members

China France Russia England United States

If any of the 5 veto, it veto’s the bill even if its 14-1.

….these were all ALLIES in WWII.

10 NON permanent members (are elected by the G.A. for 2 year terms.)

Angola Chad Chile Jordan Spain New Zealand Lithuanaia Malaysia Nigeria Venezuela

Hutu vs Tutsi In a nutshell… 800,000 to 1 million

Tutsi killed by Hutu in 1994.

The problem: Land = power Rwanda was

controlled by Germany and then Belgium.

Both Germany and Belgium FAVORED the Tutsi. The loved the Tutsi, the treated the Tutsi great, placed the Tutsi in positions of power and influence.