MOCK DEBATE FOR FACING HISTORY The Atlantic Charter

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The Atlantic Charter

This was a bold step on the part of the Great Britain and the United States. It was very significant for the United States because they were not yet involved in World War II. The impact of the Atlantic Charter can be seen in the following ways: The Allied nations agreed to the principles of the Atlantic Charter thus establishing a commonality of purpose. The Atlantic Charter was a significant first step towards the United Nations. The Atlantic Charter was perceived by the Axis powers as the beginnings of a United States and Great Britain alliance. This had the impact of strengthening the militaristic government in Japan. Though the Atlantic Charter pledged no military support for the war in Europe it had the impact of signaling the United States as a major player on the world stage. This was a position that the United States would firmly hold after World War II in its efforts to rebuild a war torn Europe.

The Atlantic Charter Originally the Soviet Union, which had been attacked by Germany the month before, was to sign the charter as well. But the notion of "one world," in which nations abandoned their traditional beliefs in and reliance upon military alliances and spheres of influence, did not appeal to Joseph Stalin, and, in fact, neither was Churchill particularly thrilled. Only Roosevelt, who had been a member of the Wilson administration, truly believed in the possibility of a world governed by democratic processes, with an international organization serving as an arbiter of disputes and protector of the peace.

The Atlantic Charter T he two leaders, the two important men of the 20th century, agreed to a simple, but elegant eight-point statement of their aims which today still stands as the central credo of the Atlantic Alliance. The Charter was awkward in that it was essentially a statement of American and British war aims--but America was not at war. Thus it had to be very carefully couched for American public consumption.

The Atlantic Charter The President of the United States of America and the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, representing His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, being met together, deem it right to make known certain common principles in the national policies of their respective countries on which they base their hopes for a better future for the world. First, their countries seek no aggrandizement, territorial or other; Second, they desire to see no territorial changes that do not accord with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned; Third, they respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live; and they wish to see sovereign rights and self government restored to those who have been forcibly deprived of them; Fourth, they will endeavor, with due respect for their existing obligations, to further the enjoyment by all States, great or small, victor or vanquished, of access, on equal terms, to the trade and to the raw materials of the world which are needed for their economic prosperity; Fifth, they desire to bring about the fullest collaboration between all nations in the economic field with the object of securing, for all, improved labor standards, economic advancement and social security; Sixth, after the final destruction of the Nazi tyranny, they hope to see established a peace which will afford to all nations the means of dwelling in safety within their own boundaries, and which will afford assurance that all the men in all the lands may live out their lives in freedom from fear and want; Seventh, such a peace should enable all men to traverse the high seas and oceans without hindrance; Eighth, they believe that all of the nations of the world, for realistic as well as spiritual reasons must come to the abandonment of the use of force. Since no future peace can be maintained if land, sea or air armaments continue to be employed by nations which threaten, or may threaten, aggression outside of their frontiers, they believe, pending the establishment of a wider and permanent system of general security, that the disarmament of such nations is essential. They will likewise aid and encourage all other practicable measures which will lighten for peace-loving peoples the crushing burden of armaments.

The Atlantic Charter The Atlantic Charter served as a foundation stone for the later establishment of the United Nations, setting forth several principles for the nations of the world, including -- the renunciation of all aggression, right to self-government, access to raw materials, freedom from want and fear, freedom of the seas, and disarmament of aggressor nations.

The Atlantic Charter It was not only Stalin that objected to provisions of the Atlantic Charter. Churchill also had concerns, especially as the soaring rhetoric of freedom if applied to the Empire was troubling. Enlisting the support of the United States for the war effort, however, was primary for the British at the time. Roosevelt was adamant. He has strongly endorsed the concept of collective security enshrined in the League of Nations. As the War progressed, President Roosevelt began to conceive of a new organization, the United Nations, to serve as forum to arbitrate disputes and protect of the peace. In fact, the United Nations declaration of January 1, 1942, the countries signing the document pledged to adopt the principles of the Atlantic Charter.

The Atlantic Charter Public reaction was muted. Public opinion in Britain applauded the principles enunciated and American support in the war against the NAZIs. But there was still no clear statement of American entry into the War. Churchill himself had hoped for more, but had to be content with what occurred. The term "Atlantic Charter" was coined by the Daily Herald, a London newspaper. Only after the newspapers began referring to their statement as the "Atlantic Charter" did first Churchill and the Roosevelt begin using that term. The term "charter" appealed because it had soft sound and avoided the issue of an alliance. The President knew that an alliance would require Congressional approval and be strongly resisted by the Isolationists.