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The United Nations: 1940's-1950's, Present, and Future

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The United Nations: 1940's-1950's, Present, and Future
The United Nations: 1940's-1950's, Present, and Future

Jeff Patch
APUSH/APLANG
Mr. Newman/Mrs. Roll
December 1, 2000

The United Nations: 1940's-1950's, Present, and Future

Thesis: The role of the United Nations has changed from being primarily an international peacekeeping force to primarily a humanitarian organization.

I. History
II. 1940's and 1950's: International Peacekeeping A. Creation of the United Nations B. Peacekeeping Missions
III. Present Day: Humanitarian Efforts A. Transition B. Missions
IV. Future: One World Government A. Coming About B. Benefits

The United Nations: 1940's-1950's, Present, and Future

The United Nations was created in a time of uneasy peace between the nations of the world. World War II had just ended. The League of Nations, the predecessor to the United Nations failed to prevent war. It, not unlike the American government when it was first created, did not have enough power to follow through with its decisions. After the war it was clearly seen that some major changes would have to be undertaken in order correct the problems that plagued the League of Nations. The League of Nations did not have any power to execute its decisions. It could not stop Hitler from invading the European countries or do much of anything else. This is major weakness for any organization and could not exist in the United Nations. The League of nations was also weak politically with the United States being a major world power and not supporting it. At this point the United States still had very isolationistic ideals and did not feel any desire to be tied to the political or social problems of Europe. Now that the United States had dove head first into World War II and was a world power rivaled only with the Soviet Union, it had no reason not to be a part of the United Nations. All governments evolve and seem to have a trial and error process. The United Nations is like the second phase in the



Cited: "Charter of the United Nations." The Annals of America 16 1976): 321- 331 McGovern, George Morris, Christopher. "United Nations Forces in Bosnia." photograph. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, 2000 ed. Reuters. "United Nations Peacekeepers." photograph. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, 2000 ed. Roosevelt, Eleanor. "The United Nations." The Annals of America 16(1976): 613-617 Truman, Harry S "UN in Brief." United Nations. Sep. 2000. 29 Nov. 2000 <http://www.un.org/Overview/brief.html> "United Nations." Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, 2000 ed. "United Nations Peacekeeping Forces." Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, 2000 ed. "Universal Declaration of Human Rights." OHCHR: English Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 1998. 26 Nov. 2000 <http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/eng.htm> UPI/The Bettmann Archive Vandenberg, Arthur H. "Collective Security Within the United Nations." The Annals of America 16 (1976): 518-519 --------

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