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Kavanagh et al: British Politics 5e

Chapter 06

From global Empire to European partner

Churchill Speech Interactive
www.churchillspeeches.com/
A truly innovative site. This website synchronises an audio recording of Churchill's 'Sinews of Peace' speech (a.k.a. his 'Iron Curtain' speech), delivered at Westminster College, Fulton Missouri in March 1946, to an interactive timeline of events relating to the speech. As the speech plays you can click on multi-media resources or you can explore Churchill's (45 minute long) speech in relation to its key themes. This site will not only significantly extend your understanding of Britain's place immediately after the war but give you an opportunity to hear a standard of oratory now largely absent in contemporary British politics.

The Schuman Declaration, 9 May 1950
europa.eu/abc/symbols/9-may/decl_en.htm
This is the full-text of French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman's declaration which established a European Coal and Steel Community, began substantive Franco-German post-war cooperation and which was the point of origin for the EEC and later the EU. The date of the declaration, 9 May, is now celebrated by the European Union as 'Europe Day'. However, as Chapter 6, explains the UK did not participate in the ECSC. Read the declaration in conjunction with the chapter to discover why.

The BBC – Suez: The End of Empire
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5199392.stm
2006 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Suez crisis, which as the chapter explains, represented a particular blow to British prestige and its continued self-perceived 'Great Power' status. This article, by the BBC's World Affairs Correspondent, Paul Reynolds provides a useful summary of the crisis and its significance. On the right hand side of the page are a series of links to other related material on the BBC website, including archive audio and video material.

National Archives: Edward Heath – European Citizen
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/citizenship/brave_new_world/heath.htm
This website forms part of an exhibition on the National Archives site and focuses on Edward Heath who lead the negotiations in 1961 for British entry into the EEC and who would finally succeed in securing British admission in 1973. The site provides a brief outline of Heath's role in post-war policy on European integration. The highlight, however, are original documents drawn from the national archives illustrating the process which led to Britain's participation.

The British Empire: An Internet Gateway
www.ualberta.ca/~janes/EMPIRE.html
If you are interested in Britain's imperial history there are few better places to start than Dr. Jane Samson's gateway to resource on the British Empire. Here you can find a wide range of resources on the British Empire including journals and discussion lists. There are also geographically organised links to sites dealing with Britain's former colonies. Finally, you can find out about the remnants of the Empire, the British Overseas Territories at the end of the webpage.