At a time when much of the world was engaged in bloody conflict, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met aboard the USS Augusta and HMS Prince of Wales anchored at Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland. The purpose of this "Atlantic Conference," was to hammer out a vision of lasting peace for the post-war world.
The Atlantic Charter, declaring that vision, was issued as a joint statement on August 14, 1941 - before the United States entered the war. In brief, the eight points were:
1. The United States and the United Kingdom would seek no territorial gains.
2. Territorial changes must be in accord with wishes of the peoples concerned.
3. All peoples had a right to self-govern.
4. All peoples were entitled to freely participate in fair trade with all other nations.
5. There was to be global economic collaboration and improved social welfare.
6. Freedom from want and fear.
7. Freedom of the seas.
8. Disarmament of all nations, but particularly aggressor nations.
Creator: Office of War Information
Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society
Date: 1943
Identifer: location E448.16 a2
