The United Nations officially came into effect on the 24th of October in 1945, after a majority vote from the original 51 member states had ratified the United Nations Charter. The purpose of United Nations is to bring all the Nations involved together to develop peace and advancements in the world. United Nations hopes to unite all of these countries in peace based on principles of justice, human dignity, and the well-being of all people. The United nations is made up of 5 principal "organs", which all contribute to the functions of the organization. (Next slide) There are a few predecessors to the formation of the United Nations. The first is the League of Nations. The League of Nations was founded directly after World War I. At the height of the League of Nations' power, it consisted of 57 countries. It was created to promote peace and prevent a repetition of the horrific war events of the years 1914 to 1918 in Europe. The other aim of the league was to make countries cooperate in their economic and social affairs. However, the League of Nations fell apart after World War II, as it had obviously failed its mission to keep the peace. (Next slide) The second predecessor to United Nations is the "UN Charter". In 1944, those representing China, the UK, the United States, and the USSR devised a plan for an international organization whose aims would be very similar to the former, the League of Nations. This plan was finalized towards the end of the war, and was called the "UN Charter". It was signed by 50 countries on June 26 of 1945. This "UN Charter" formed the United Nations, an international organization whose aims are very similar to its predecessor, the League of Nations. (Next slide) The United Nations connects with World War I in the way that its goals were derived from the conflicts that jumpstarted the war. Participating members of the league were determined to make certain those conflicts could no longer arise. (Next slide) United Nations is made up of 5 "organs", which are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Secretariat, and the International Court of Justice. (Next slide) United Nations has improved development in many ways since 1945. For example, the organization has supported more than 5, 000 projects with a budget of $1.3 billion. It has enabled people in many countries, such as Cambodia, Namibia, and El Salvador, to participate in free and fair elections. United Nations has also helped many countries recover from natural disasters by uniting other countries to raise money for food and rebuilding. Finally, United Nations has obviously improved global trade relations by negotiating agreements, obtaining trade preferances, and supporting liberalization.