Creating the UN and Aftermath of World War II Big idea: Following World War II, the world leaders agreed they needed a more powerful international organization so they created the United Nations.

Before World War II Following World War I, President Woodrow Wilson proposed the idea of the League of Nations The League of Nations did not step in when Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles (the treaty from the end of World War I) Leaders agreed this international organization was not fulfilling its duties

Creating the United Nations The UN would play a greater role in world affairs How it would work: Each member country gets one vote Five permanent members called the Security Council: US, Russia, Britain, France and China They can veto any council decision, put economic sanctions, and send a peace-keeping military force

Nuremberg Trials The Allied forces felt the Axis leaders should be tried for “crimes against humanity” Trials were held in Nuremberg where Hitler had staged rallies in the 1930’s Nearly 200 Germans and Austrians were tried and found guilty Some were imprisoned while some were killed These trials showed that military leaders could be held accountable for their actions

Divided Germany Following World War II, Germany became a divided nation Western Germany received aid from France, Britain and the United States They became a free nation Eastern Germany received aid from the Soviet Union and fell to communism This would later lead to the Berlin Wall being built which would not come down until 1989