Atlantic Charter

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Atlantic Charter

Former name
Type	Policy statement
Context

The Atlantic Charter was a pivotal policy statement issued during World War II on 14 August 1941, which defined the Allied goals for the post-war world. The Charter was drafted by the leaders of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and the President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt, following a series of meetings aboard the warship HMS Prince of Wales in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland.

Background

The Atlantic Charter was a result of the first wartime meeting between Churchill and Roosevelt. The two leaders met secretly to discuss their respective war aims and to outline a vision for the post-war world. This meeting took place from 9 to 12 August 1941, and the resulting document was publicly announced on 14 August 1941.

Provisions

The Atlantic Charter outlined eight principal points:

1. No territorial gains were to be sought by the United States or the United Kingdom.
2. Territorial adjustments must be in accord with the wishes of the peoples concerned.
3. All people had a right to self-determination.
4. Trade barriers were to be lowered.
5. There was to be global economic cooperation and advancement of social welfare.
6. The participants would work for a world free of want and fear.
7. The participants would work for freedom of the seas.
8. There was to be disarmament of aggressor nations, and a post-war common disarmament.

Impact

The Atlantic Charter set out a vision for the post-war world, which inspired many of the international agreements that followed the war. It was a foundational document for the establishment of the United Nations and influenced the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which later evolved into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Legacy

The principles of the Atlantic Charter were later incorporated into the Declaration by United Nations on 1 January 1942, which was signed by 26 Allied nations. The Charter's emphasis on self-determination and economic cooperation had a lasting impact on international relations and the development of international law.

Related Pages

• World War II
• United Nations
• Winston Churchill
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• HMS Prince of Wales (53)
• Placentia Bay
• General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
• World Trade Organization