This Day in History: br The United Nations Is Born October 24, 1945 An idea formulated in response to br the conflict during World War II, br the U.N. became a reality just months br after the war's conclusion. The U.N. Declaration was drafted by br the U.S., Great Britain and the former br Soviet Union. By 1942, it had been br signed by 26 nations. The U.N. Charter was presided over by br Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill br and Joseph Stalin. The aims of the organization included maintaining br treaties "to reaffirm faith in fundamental human br rights," "to save succeeding generations from br the scourge of war" and "to promote social progress." Peace became the primary focus br of the early U.N. With Cold War br tensions just on the horizon, this br proved to be a complicated endeavor. Today, the United Nations br is comprised of 193 nations.