Why United Nations Day Falls on October 24
A signature can be an important beginning, but it does not always put an agreement into action right away. That is what happened with the agreement that created the United Nations. Representatives of countries signed it in June 1945, but the United Nations officially came into existence several months later. United Nations Day marks that later date: October 24.
From planning to action
During World War II, countries began planning an organization where nations could work together after the war. They hoped to help prevent future conflicts and address problems that crossed national borders. Creating such an organization took discussion and agreement among many countries.
In 1945, representatives gathered in San Francisco to complete the United Nations Charter. A charter is a document that sets out an organization’s purposes and rules. On June 26, 1945, representatives signed the UN Charter. Signing showed support for the agreement, but one more step was needed before it could take effect.
The required countries had to ratify the Charter. Ratification is a country’s formal approval of an agreement, usually through its own government process. Once the required ratifications were in place, the Charter entered into force on October 24, 1945. That is the date the United Nations officially began. United Nations Day observes the Charter’s entry into force, not the earlier signing.
- conflicts:
- Serious disagreements or struggles between people or groups.
- representatives:
- People chosen to speak or act for others.
- security:
- Safety from danger or harm.
- cooperation:
- Working together toward a shared goal.
- dispute:
- A disagreement or argument.
- hardships:
- Difficult conditions or experiences.
- ongoing:
- Continuing over time.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why is United Nations Day observed on October 24 rather than June 26?
- 2How did World War II influence the planning of the United Nations?
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“Why United Nations Day Falls on October 24” is a explanatory article reading passage about United Nations Day, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (452 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.