Britannica Student Encyclopedia - 2010

counties remained part of the United

Kingdom as Northern Ireland. The

country was renamed the United Kingdom

of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Some people in Northern Ireland

continued to fight against British rule

through the 20th century.

Later Years

The United Kingdom was on the winning

side in both WorldWar I (1914–

18) and WorldWar II (1939–45). After

WorldWar I Britain won new lands

from the defeated countries as the result

of peace treaties. Prime MinisterWinston

Churchill gave Britain strong leadership

duringWorldWar II. But British

cities were heavily damaged. The United

Kingdom spent years rebuilding its

economy.

AfterWorldWar II Britain gave up most

of its lands in other parts of the world.

Almost all the former colonies, however,

chose to maintain ties with Britain.

They remained members of a British

organization called the Commonwealth.

For many years the people ofWales,

Scotland, and Northern Ireland asked

for more self-rule. During the 1990s the

British government finally allowed the

three to form their own parliaments.

The national Parliament in London,

however, continued to govern the

United Kingdom as a whole.

#More to explore

Anglo-Saxon • Celt • Empire • England

• Europe • London • Northern Ireland

• Parliament • Rome, Ancient

• Scotland • Vikings •Wales •World

War I •WorldWar II

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA United Kingdom 21

 

United Nations

The United Nations is an organization

that includes almost all the world’s

countries, or nations. It is called the UN

for short. By the 21st century the

United Nations had more than 190

members. The main goal of the United

Nations is world peace. The United

Nations also works to reduce poverty

and suffering and to improve people’s

lives in other ways.

Functions

The United Nations tries to find peaceful

solutions to disagreements between

countries. If fighting breaks out, the

United Nations sometimes sends in

military troops to try to stop it.

After a war, UN organizations provide

money to help countries rebuild. They

also give poor countries money to help

build up their economies.

The United Nations helps refugees—

people who have left their countries to

avoid danger or mistreatment. The

United Nations also tries to protect

human rights. The United Nations

Universal Declaration of Human

Rights, written in 1948, describes those

rights. The United Nations also tries to

make sure that everyone gets equal

treatment regardless of race, sex,

language, or religion.

Divisions

The United Nations has six main parts.

They are the General Assembly, the

Security Council, the International

Court of Justice, the Secretariat, the

Economic and Social Council, and the

Trusteeship Council. The Trusteeship

Council is no longer active.

The General Assembly discusses all

kinds of issues that affect member

countries. It has representatives from

UN members. Each member has one

vote. To decide important questions, at

least two thirds of the members must

agree.

The Security Council looks into disagreements

between countries and suggests

ways to settle them peacefully.

Only 15 countries belong to the Security

Council at any one time. Five countries

belong permanently. They are the

United States, Great Britain, France,

Russia, and China. All five permanent

members must agree before the Security

Council can take action.

The International Court of Justice hears

disputes between countries. It is commonly

called theWorld Court. Any

member country can bring a case before

the court, which has 15 judges.

United Nations troops patrol an area in

order to help keep the peace.

22 United Nations BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

 

The Secretariat helps to carry out UN

decisions. People from almost every

member country work in its offices. An

official called the secretary-general runs

the Secretariat and speaks for the United

Nations.

The Economic and Social Council tries

to improve social services such as health

and education.Other groups called

specialized agencies help it in its work.

History

The United States, Great Britain, and

the Soviet Union planned the United

Nations. They wanted a new group to

take the place of the League of Nations.

The League had been formed to keep

peace afterWorldWar I (1914–18).

However, it was not powerful enough to

preventWorldWar II (1939–45).

In April 1945, near the end ofWorld

War II, people from 50 countries met in

San Francisco, California, to organize

the United Nations. In June they completed

the United Nations Charter, or

founding document. On October 24,

1945, the United Nations officially

began work.

#More to explore

Human Rights • League of Nations

• Refugee •WorldWar II

Some United Nations Agencies and Programs

Specialized Agencies Abbreviation Goals

International Labour ILO To improve working conditions for

Organization workers worldwide

Food and Agriculture FAO To improve farming, forestry, and

Organization of the UN fishing practices; to ensure that all

people have enough to eat

UN Educational, Scientific UNESCO To promote education for all; to protect

and Cultural Organization nature and the world’s cultures; to

promote international cooperation in