Final answer:
The Atlantic Charter outlined principles such as self-determination, self-government, reduced trade barriers, freedom of the seas, and disarmament as critical for maintaining lasting peace post-World War II, influencing the foundation of the United Nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Atlantic Charter, a critical aspect in maintaining lasting peace around the world after World War II involved several principles agreed upon by U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. These principles included the concept of self-determination, where citizens of all countries were to be given the right to choose their own form of government.
Another key element was the promotion of self-government, especially in places where it had previously been eliminated. Additionally, the charter advocated for the lowering of trade barriers, and the idea of the freedom of the seas, which entailed open and free navigation for all nations. A further principle was the agreement to renounce the use of force for settling international disputes, coupled with the call for postwar disarmament, meaning the reduction of weapons and military strengths.
These foundations of the Atlantic Charter not only guided the Allied powers during the war but also shaped the principles that would lead to the creation of the United Nations as a body to foster and maintain international peace and security. The Charter echoed the aspirations of Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, seeking to build a world that was based on fair principles rather than territorial conquest and repression, thereby ensuring a sustainable peace.