United Nations

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization created in the aftermath of World War II to promote peace and prosperity among and within nations and states. Its formal existence began on October 24, 1945, with the ratification of the UN Charter by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and other signatories.

The UN is generally considered to be the successor to the League of Nations, which was established in 1919 to promote international cooperation, peace, and security. As the league's international role faded in the 1930s and 1940s, various national governments agreed to form a new organization. They met in San Francisco in 1945 to draw up the UN Charter. As of December 2009, the UN had 192 ...