MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – On June 26, 1945, the Charter of the United Nations was signed, marking the beginning of the world body that aims to keep international peace.
Delegates from 50 different countries signed the charter in San Francisco, taking over the previous international body “League of Nations”. League of Nations disbanded in 1946.
The UN had been an idea years in the making, with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt first starting to use the name “United Nations” in 1941.
He had used it when talking about Allied countries against the Axis powers.
Early iterations of the UN had talked about how to stop the powers and outlined the war goals of the allies.
Years later, after Germany surrendered, the United Nations was officially created. The UN charter was ratified a few months after it was signed, in October of 1945. The first assembly met in January of the next year.
The UN is made up of 193 nations today and is headquartered in New York City.
Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.
Copyright 2026 WMTV. All rights reserved.