History of the United Kingdom - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

The the United Kingdom is a sovereign state including the England, the Scotland, the Wales and the Northern Ireland. They are the acts of Union of 1707 which, linking the English Parlement and the Scottish Parlement, mark the birth of a “ Royaume of Great Britain ”. In 1800, another act of Union gathers the kingdom of Great Britain and the Royaume of Ireland to form the “ the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ”.

In 1922, the free State of Ireland obtains its independence and separates from Northern Ireland, which remains part of the United Kingdom. Since 1927, the official name of Great Britain is the “ the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ”.

Conquests and unions until 1707

The conquest of Ireland

The conquest of the Ireland begins in 1169, under Henri II. In the beginning, it is not strictly an English conquest, since it is started by an small group of Normands not acting in the name of the English Crown. Richard FitzGilbert de Clare, known as Strongbow , Norman baron of Wales dispossessed of its grounds, fact equips with Diarmuid MacMorrough, king d' Irlande in exile, to help it to reconquer its kingdom of Leinster. Thereafter, the Norman ones take foot in Ireland, and seize Dublin in 1170. Anxious on the rising power of Strongbow, Henri II decides to invade itself Ireland in 1171. He manages to control Dublin and his neighborhoods.

In 1541, the Parlement of Ireland receives the order to change the statute of Ireland into kingdom, with Henri VIII proclaimed king. This one, which was always shown as below the laws of the Parliament, is shown like King d' Irlande the following year. This act creates a union of the crowns. During the remainder of the 16th century, the monarchs Tudor extend their authority on Ireland starting from the area around Dublin, the English Pale , and end up controlling the totality of the island in 1603. The Reconquête of Ireland by Tudor sees being held episodes particularly violent one, like the two revolts of the counts de Desmond (1569 - 1573 and 1579 - 1583) and the Guerre Last nine Year old. XVIe century sees also the creation of the “Plantations of Ireland”: to reinforce the English influence in Ireland, of the grounds are confiscated with their owners Irish and distributed to English colonists.

Union of the Two Crowns (1603)

The Scotland, until in 1707, remains an independent kingdom and resists the expansion of the English domination. Because of the climate, physical geography and density of the population, of Royaume of Scotland have, from an economic and military point of view, the tendency to be lower than its neighbor in the south, the Royaume of England. However, the “ Auld Alliance ” with the Royaume of France worries the successive English governments, and the need for separating the Scotland from its allied catholic is one of the constants of the English policy with respect to Scotland until the union of the crowns, in particular during the Protestant Réforme. The Scottish Réforme causes a conflict between “the old” religion (the Roman Catholicism) and the news (the Scottish Church or presbytérienne.) The queen Marie I {{Re}} (known as Mary, Queen off Scots ) sees herself forced to abdicate after true a Coup d'etat, and to flee for England by giving up her son Jacques VI with the care of Protestant tutors. In England, the doubts in connection with the legality of the marriage of Henri VIII with Anne Boleyn make that much perceives Mary as one claiming more legitimate with the throne of England than his/her Protestant cousin Elisabeth I {{Re}} (the great-grandfather of Marie was the grandfather of Elisabeth, Henri VII, by a marriage of alliance between England and Scotland). Elisabeth, being wary, assigns her cousin with residence then, to entreat the rumors of a plot aiming to reverse it, makes it carry out for high treason. The Queen Elizabeth dies in 1603 without direct heir.

Jacques VI, now king d' Écosse, succeeds his Elisabeth cousin and takes the title of Jacques Ier of England in 1603, while preserving his title of Jacques VI, king d' Écosse. The Stuart are now the royal family of “Great Britain”, but the two kingdoms preserve separate Parliaments. The Union of the Two Crowns began a possible unification of the two kingdoms. However, during the next century, of strong political differences and nuns continue to divide the two kingdoms, and the single royalty does not manage to prevent internal wars.

The Commonwealth and the temporary annexation of Scotland and Ireland

The accession of the son of Jacques I {{er}}, Charles I {{er}}, to the throne in 1625 mark the one period beginning of conflict enters the King and the Parliament. The adhesion of Charles to the doctrines of the monarchy of divine right pokes a battle of supremacy between the King and the Parliament, which culminates with the English civil war (1642 - 1651). In 1649, Charles is decapitated. It is the beginning of the Republic, or the Commonwealth (of 1649 to 1653, followed by one period of personal government of the Lord Protector Olivier Cromwell. The new mode is unpopular, and the death of Cromwell in 1658 leaves the place to a political vacuum that the government of his/her son Richard (1658 - 1659) does not manage to fill. In 1659, one tries to return to the system former to the Protectorate of Cromwell, but, ultimately, the will of political stability pushes the Parliament to negotiate the Restauration of monarchy in 1660. The son of Charles Ier, Charles II, goes up on the throne. The period of the crises between the Parliament and Charles Ier in the years 1620 until the restoration of monarchy in 1660 is more and more called the English Révolution by the historians. The period of the Commonwealth sees the annexation of Ireland and Scotland by England and the abolition of their legislative autonomy. Ireland was particularly touched by the period of the civil wars; indeed, after the conquest of Cromwell, the catholic Irish land class was dispossessed of its grounds and was replaced by a British and Protestant leading class. Ireland as Scotland sees their nominal autonomy restored after the Restoration. Nevertheless, the period of the Guerres of the Three Kingdoms (1639 - 1651) devoted much time to establish the primacy of England on the two other kingdoms of Stuart monarchy.

Acts of Union (1707)

The United Kingdom at the 18th century

During the 18th century, Great Britain emerges like a great power in Europe and in the whole world. The century is marked by a competition with the France, which is prolonged with their colonies overseas in North America, with the the Antilles, and in India. In the War Seven Year old (1756 - 1763), Great Britain triumphs decisively over these three faces, conquering the News-France as well as of other French possessions.

However, British triumph in North America east of short duration. In 1775, just 12 years after its defeat of the French, his Thirteen colonies launches a war of independence. With the assistance of France, the United States forces the British to recognize their independence in 1783.

On the continent of Europe, Great Britain supports uniformly the status quo . The French revolution worries considerably the British government, which declares the war against the new French Republic in 1793. The war continues at the 19th century.

Economic changes

Phenomenal growth of the foreign trade

The foreign trade of Great Britain knows in XVIII^e century an exceptional growth. From 1700-1701 to 1797-1798, the value of the imports passes from a little less than six million pounds sterling to 24 million. The value of exports of goods produced in Great Britain passes from 4,5 million books to 18,3 million. The value of the re-exportations passes from 2,1 to 12 million books.

This phenomenal growth is explained by three major phenomena:

1 the increasing demand in Great Britain for exotic products coming from America and of Asia (tobacco, sugar, the, coffee, produced dyes like the indigo);
2 the increasing demand in the countries of Western Europe and North for the same products, which are imported into Great Britain before being re-exported;
3 the increasing demand in the American colonies, at the same time in manufactured goods and re-exported products from Asia.

The area made up of England and Wales, of Scotland, of Ireland, of the colonies of America and the Antilles, and to a certain extent coasts of West Africa, functions in XVIII^e century like a free exchange zone, in which the British merchants can trade freely. It is on the other hand an protected area of foreign competition by the Navigation Acts .

Another cause of the phenomenal growth of the British foreign trade is the development of a market of the particularly powerful credit, supported by the principal wholesalers and international merchants, and by institutions like the Bank off England, and which makes it possible to mitigate the constant shortage of cash. The rate of the credit is particularly low in Great Britain of XVIII^e century: around 3 to 4% on average, which corresponds roughly speaking to the current rates, whereas in the rest of Europe, it is rare to be able to borrow from less than 10%.

First steps of the Industrial revolution

August 1st

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

The Act of Union of 1800

The 19th century

Ireland

See also: History of Ireland (1801-1922)

Part of the negotiations around the Acte of Union of 1800 stipulated that the Criminal law would be repealed as well as the guaranteed catholic emancipation. However the king George III blocks the emancipation while arguing that to accept it would go against sound oath to defend the Église Anglican. A campaign carried out by lawyer and politicking Daniel O' Connell as well as the death of king George leads to the concession of the catholic emancipation in 1829, the catholics are authorized at the Parliament. O' Connell then tries to make repeal the Act of Union, a campaign without success.

When the epidemic of Mildiou reaches the island in 1846, a major part of the rural population does not have anything any more to eat. Unfortunately, the British politicians as the Prime Minister Robert Peel practice at that time the Economic policy Leave-to make which requires of the capacity not to intervene, in particular in the economic domain. Enormous sums are raised by private individuals and charity associations (of the American Indians send provisioning, the queen Victoria gives the equivalent of 70.000 €) but the inactivity of the British government (or at least an inadequate activity) make problem a catastrophe. The class of the plowmen of the fields is practically destroyed in what will be known under the term of Famine of potatoes in Ireland ( Irish Potato Famine ). The majority of the Irishmen elect liberal MP and preserving pertaining to large the British political parties (the poor did not have the right to vote at the time). A significant minority also elects the Unionistic ones which defends the maintenance of the Act of Union. A lawyer Tory who makes campaign with the national scales, Isaac Butt, establishes a new moderated nationalist movement, the Home Rule League , in the years 1870. After the death of Butt, the Home Rule League or rather the Irish Parliamentary Party as it is called as of now, becomes a major political clout under William Shaw and the radical owner protesting Charles Stewart Parnell. L' Irish Parliamentary Party dominates the Irish policy other than the liberal parties, conservatives and unionistic who existed before. The movement of Parnell meets a total success, among the preserving owners as at the Land League which makes countryside for a fundamental reform of the Irish properties, the majority of the farms are rented by aristocratic great landowners.

The movement of Parnell makes countryside for the Home Rule which means that Ireland will autogouvernera itself as an area of the United Kingdom, with the opposition of O' Connell which wishes a whole independence with a monarch and a divided crown. Two Home Rule Bills are introduced by the Prime Minister Gladstone but none arrives at the statute of law, especially because of the opposition of the House of Lords. The question divides Ireland, a significant minority (especially coming from the Ulster) are against the Home Rule and fear that a Parliament catholic-nationalist in Dublin will involve discriminating measurements and will impose tariffs on industry; although the majority of Ireland saw agriculture, six counties of Ulster are the seat of important heavy industries which then would be affected by new tariffs.

In 1912, another Home Bill passes by the House of Commons but runs up, just like in 1893, with the House of Lords. However, the House of Lords at that time lost his legislative matter right to veto and Bill the two years - until in 1914 can only delay. During these two years, Ireland is constantly threatened of a Civil war with the creation of the Unionist Ulster Volunteers and their nationalist counterpart, the Irish Volunteers . The two groups are armed into important with rifles and of the ammunition and involve themselves publicly. When the First World War bursts in 1914, the question of Ireland is forgotten for the duration of the war. The unionistic and nationalist forces join the British armed and suffer from considerable losses in the Tranchée S.

Until 1918, l' Irish Parliamentary Party remains the political party dominating in Ireland although divided since the end of the 19th century after the business of the divorce O' Shea. Parnell, called “King without crown of Ireland” ( Uncrowned King off Ireland ), lived with the woman of one of her MP, and was the father many children. When the scandal bursts, the British religious nonconformists, who were the support of the Irish liberal party, force W.E. Gladstone to give up the Irish cause as long as the adultery Parnell is in load. The party is divided into pro and anti-Parnellites which fights during the elections.

A Irish République is unilaterally declared in Dublin in 1916 at the time of the insurrection of Easter ( Easter Rising ). The insurrection is rather quickly subdued by the British forces and the chiefs are carried out. This causes an increase in the support for the insurrection in Ireland and the declaration of independence is ratified by the Dáil Éireann, the Parliament of the republic car-declared in 1919. Of 1919 with 1921, the forces of the Crown and the army of the Irish Republic are in war.

The Anglo-Irish Traité of 1921 negotiated between the British and Irish representatives and ratified by four Parliaments establishes the free State of Ireland ( Irish Free State ) which is initially regarded as a Dominion of the British Empire, just like the Canada or the South Africa, but which leaves the the British Commonwealth and becomes a République after the Second world war without any constitutional bond with the United Kingdom. Six counties of north, mainly Protestant, remain attached to the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland).

Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland is created by the Acte of the Government of Ireland ( Government off Ireland Act ) in 1920 and ratified by the British Parliaments and Irish in 1921. Vis-a-vis divergent requests of the Irish nationalists and unionistic concerning the future one of Ireland (the nationalists voter for a single Parliament which practices the Home Rule on the whole island, the unionistic ones opposed to any manner of application of the Home Rule ) and with the fear of a Civil war between the two groups, the British government under David Lloyd George passes the Act creating thus two Irlandes under Home Rule , Northern Ireland and the Ireland of the South. Ireland of the South will never manage to be established as a state and is replaced by the free State of Ireland in 1922. Today, the state is known under the name of Irish Republic.

After having received the car-government in 1920 (although this was not required and some as Sir Edward Carson were savagely opposite there), the government of practical Northern Ireland under James Craig and his successors a policy of discrimination towards the catholic and nationalist minority. Northern Ireland becomes, according to the words of the prize winner of the Nobel Prize, chief of the unionistic party and Prime Minister of Northern Ireland David Trimble “ has cold place for Catholics. ” Of the localities and cities are arbitrarily cut out in electoral constituencies to make null and void the local governmental elections to ensure a protesting control of the local councils. Arrangements which give to the business enterprises the right to vote and which regulate the minimal wages also help to achieve this goal.

In the years 1960, unionistic the Prime Minister moderate Terence O' Neill (later Lord O' Neill of Maine) tries to reform the system but encounters a general opposition of the Protestants chief like Ian Paisley. The pressures on behalf of the nationalists and of the unionistic extremes increase and lead to movements which fight for the civic rights with at their head of the characters like John Hume, Austin Currie and others. Dissensions between the demonstrators and the Royal Ulster Constabulary lead to disagreements at the communal level. The British army is sent in Northern Ireland in 1969 by the British Secretary of State James Callaghan to protect the nationalists, which is highly recognized. However, the murder of thirteen civil people without weapons in 1972 with Londonderry by British paramilitary troops ( “Bloody Sunday ”) ignites the situation and the nationalists of North turn themselves against the British army. The appearance of the “provisional Irish Republican Army” (WILL GO) which separates from the WILL GO official which becomes more and more Marxist, and a campaign violence orchestrated by local terrorist groups like l' Ulster Defense Association and others, push Northern Ireland at the edge of a civil war. During years 1970 and 1980, extremists on the two sides make murders in mass, the victims are often innocent civil people. Among the most notorious insults one can quote the bombardment of It My as well as the bombardment of Enniskillen and Omagh.

Certain British politicians as the minister Tony Ben of the workers party are for a British withdrawal of Ireland, but the successive Irish governments are opposed to this policy which predict the possible results of a British withdrawal, the “ Doomsday Scenario ”, by evoking local disagreements with the national scales followed by a Exode in mass of thousands of men, women and children who take refuge on their “side” of the province, of the nationalists running away themselves in the West of Northern Ireland, of unionistic in the East. The most serious fear is that of a civil war which will not relate to only Northern Ireland but also the Irish Republic as well as the Scotland, both having close links with one and/or the other community. Later, the possible impact of a British withdrawal is called the Balkanisation of Northern Ireland to the image of the bursting of the Yugoslavia.

To the beginning of the year 1970, the Parliament of Northern Ireland is deferred after the refusal of the unionistic government under Brian Faulkner to transmit the capacity to the British government which founds the direct Gouvernement ( Direct rule ) since London starting from the March 24th 1972. New systems of government are tested but prove all of the failures, the such Accord of Sunningdale ( Sunningdale Agreement ), the test of a progressive Dévolution ( Rolling devolution ) and the Anglo-Irish Accord ( Anglo-Irish Agreement ). In the years 1990, the failure of will gain the public support or to achieve its goal, the British withdrawal, in particular after the disaster of Enniskillen followed by a change of being able with the departure of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh and the arrival of Gerry Adams sees WILL SUIT it to be detached from the armed conflict to start a way of political agreements. These changes are followed by new chiefs to Dublin (Albert Reynolds), to London (John Major) and to the head of unionistic (David Trimble). Talks initiated by Adams and Hume, chief of the social democrat and Labor Left, lead to total discussions between the parties which lead to the Accord of the Good Friday ( Good Friday Agreement ) in 1998, approved by the majority of the communities in Northern Ireland like by the Irish Republic, where the constitution '' Bunreacht Na hÉireann '' is modified to replace a claim on the territory of Northern Ireland by recognizing the existence of Northern Ireland, but by also recognizing the desire of the nationalists of unified Ireland.

Under the Agreement of the Good Friday, correctly “Agreement of Belfast”, a news north-Irish Assemblée is elected with an aim of forming a Parliament north-Irish. Very party reaching a specific level of support is authorized to name a member of the party to the government and to assert a ministry. Unionistic the David Trimble of the Ulster becomes Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. The deputy and leader of SDLP, Seamus Mallon, becomes Representing Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, but will be replaced later by Mark Durkan, new leader of the party. The unionistic Left Ulster, SDLP, the Left unionistic democrat and the Sinn Féin have all of the ministers of right in the assembly to the shared capacity. The assembly as her Exécutif for the moment both are suspended because of threats on behalf of the unionistic due ones to the delay of WILL GO in its process of disarmament and also because of discovered of a circle of espionage related to WILL GO which operates in the middle of the civil service (this proved to be false, Denis Donaldson which had the documents which showed WILL SUIT it worked for the British intelligence). The government is again between the hands of the Secretary of State of Northern Ireland, Peter Hain which has at these sides a British ministerial team.

The United Kingdom and the Commonwealth

The control of the British Empire on its colonies decreases during the Entre-deux-guerres. The Nationalisme takes a big part in some parts of the Empire, in particular with the the Indies and in Egypt.

Between 1867 and 1910, the Australia, the Canada and the New Zealand receive the statute of Dominion (an quasi-autonomy within the Empire). They become founding members of the British Commonwealth (known under the name of '' the Commonwealth off Nations '' since 1949), an abstract organization which succeeds the British Empire. With the independence of the the Indies and Pakistan in 1947 complete the decolonization of the Empire. Today, the majority of the old British colonies make party of the Commonwealth, practically all as an independent member. Remain however thirteen old British colonies - whose Bermuda, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands - which decide to keep their political bond with London, they are the British territories of overseas.

Although often marked of an economic and political nationalism, the Commonwealth gives to the United Kingdom its word to be said in the businesses concerning the Developing country and also has the appearance of a Forum for the concerns for these countries. Ã to note that the Ireland, the the United States as well as the old colonies and Protectorat S of the Moyen the East do not make party of the Commonwealth. Moreover, the Commonwealth helps to preserve institutions copied on the British model, like the parliamentary Démocratie Westminster ienne, in these countries.

War and depression

Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom 1900-1945

Social history

The first years of the 20th century still kept the mark of the attitudes and ideal victoriens. The First World War changes the British company radically. The British army, which was never a large employer, counts only two hundred and forty seven thousand soldiers with the declaration of war. In 1918, the army and the Royal Air Force, formed of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and Royal Flying Body (RFS), count five million of them. The Royal Air Force counted approximately two hundred and fifty thousand combat units in 1918. The country will count at the end from the war, 780.000 died and several hundreds of thousands of wounded (the lost Génération of the poet writer T.S. Eliot). The commercial and military fleet at summer mainly destroyed. The United Kingdom has evil to ensure the trade with its colonies, etl' economic activity slowed down. To rebuild its fleet the United Kingdom must call upon the American credit. The United States takes the place E maritime first power.

Of return of the Distinct S, much tests rancour vis-a-vis the indifference of the civilians and, taking into account their own sacrifice (in France, a similar phenomenon takes place), the conscription brews populations of origins and rows various and this levelling of mass accelerated the social change of post-war period. The social reforms of last century give birth in 1900 to the Workers party, which reaches however the capacity only in 1922. In 1919, the law on the social housing of the Prime Minister Lloyd George makes leave people their slums of suburbs of the time victorienne. However, the trams use the fairy electricity well before the dwellings. The Right to vote is recognized with the Femme S in 1918, but the Vote for all is born only in 1928.

The Great depression of 1929 striking hard the north of the England and the Wales (70% of unemployed in certain areas). Previously already, the general strike of 1926 is proclaimed in solidarity with the decreased minors and their wages. The novel the Quay of Wigan of George Orwell describes well the conditions of existence of the working class of the north of the England during the Années 1930. Then the slow decline of the coal industry of the United Kingdom begins which reaches its paroxysm with the beginning of the year Thatcher (1979) with the long strike of the minors (one year, without much compensation).

The beginning of the Second world war is the occasion of a revival of employment (defense, armaments…). It commecne by the “Funny of war” or nothing serious occurs September 3rd 1939 at May 1940 (beginnings of the Blitz and German attack in Europe and England). The children are early evacuated far from the agglomerations. The number of the human losses is twice less than in 1914 - 1918 but “progress” in the air war increase the number of touched civilians. Moreover the severe air raids by the Luftwaffe on the big cities and the fact that the United Kingdom is the only opponent to resist following the collapse of the French Army after three weeks of war forge the British spirit of resistance to the enemy.

One then attends a “return” of the populations towards the privative fields, agriculture and gardens to provide for the food needs. The women largely take part in this effort of war (factories but also agriculture): the “Girls Land” (girls of the ground), five hundred and thousand women in the armed forces. Even the princess and future queen Elizabeth II contribute to the effort of war by driving trucks. The sexual Révolution starts already with this emancipation.

Second half of the 20th century

See also: History of the United Kingdom (1945-2000)

Post-war period

After the Second world war, Clement Attlee (Labor) is carried to the capacity by the electoral tidal wave of 1945. With the program: nationalizations of the services, transport and the creation of a modern Welfare state for social protection, health, the health insurance, the retirements, etc

Aneurin Bevan, first secretary for Health, creates the British National service of health (NHS) against the general opinion of the medical community. The members of the Labor Party carry it with the elections of 1950 but with a weak majority, which causes new elections in 1951. The members of the Labor Party lose these elections because of the electoral system (more voice than in 1945, and more voice than the conservatives… but less seats).

Decline of the British Empire

For Winston Churchill (1951 - 1955), it is the third experiment of government after the coalition of time of war and the short government of Après-guerre. It attempts to maintain and maintain the “special relation” with the the United States. It must face the sudden starts of the international crises, often related to the alarm clock of nationalisms in the ex-colonies, and the decline of the prestige and the power of the British Empire. For example, the crisis anglo-Iranian woman about the Oil: the Parliament Iran IEN votes in March 1951 the nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, strongly supported by the old leader Mohammad Mossadegh. The the International Court of Justice proposes a division of the profits, that Churchill rejects. The British consider a Coup d'etat which finally is formed with the center even army and factions pro-British with the Majlis.

Anthony Eden arrives at the capacity the April 7th 1955. Very popular during the war, pleasant with the population, it does not have however economic matter experience. He prefers to concentrate on Alliance with the the United States of Eisenhower. In 1956, the Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser wants to nationalize the Suez Canal. After months of intense negotiations and attempts at mediation, the the United Kingdom, the France and Israel react while attacking and occupy the canal zone. The United States, more favorable to the decolonization, is opposed. The Franco-English troops are withdrawn. From now on, Great Britain and France are not any more the great powers of pre-war period.

The EEC and Northern Ireland

Harold Macmillan (January 1957 - 1963), specialist in the economic affairs and financial, research full employment against the opinion of his/her collaborators, who must finally resign. It creates the National Commission of control of the incomes within the framework of its subtle policy of growth “without inflation”. It supervises closely the foreign politics of the country, seeks a bringing together with the Europe and explores the tracks of an entry in the EEC. It confirms its policy of decolonization by granting independence to the Ghana and the Malaysia (1957), with the Nigeria (1960), with the Kenya (1963), but maintains the presence British with the the Middle East (Iraq, Oman). It leads the Conservatives to the victory in October 1959. Nuclear technology (military) not being yet at the point, it approaches the the United States to improve it (Loi Mac Mahon, 1957). It signs the treaty of prohibition partial of nuclear tests in 1962. But De Gaulle says “not” and is opposed to the entry Great Britain in the European Economic community (it is in dissension with the British policy subjected to that of the United States and answers the attempt missed by the United Kingdom to create a concurrent Alliance of the EEC). It freezes the wages in 1961 because of a deficit in the balance of payments, which causes a fall of growing popularity and, in spite of a change of cabinet in 1962, must resign in 1963.

The political career of Alec Douglas-Home (1963 - 1964) is original and poor at the same time. Member of Parliament, it must give up his title of count to the House of Lords to sit at the Communes. Appointed Prime Minister, his policy is not a success.

Harold Wilson (1964 - 1970), chief of the Workers party, gains the elections but with a narrow majority of five seats. It is not sufficient to control. Also, other elections are decided in March 1966. The majority is then clearer (ninety seats). It must devaluate the Pound sterling in November 1967. Several old colonies undergo crises (Rhodesia, future Zimbabwe, and South Africa). The government supports the the United States in its war of the Vietnam but refuses to send troops to it. Its perception of the national socio-economic problems is lived like inadequate by the country. The sailors strike as soon as during six weeks Wilson re-elected in 1966, which increases this feeling.

Edward Heath (1970 - 1974) must face the question of the Northern Ireland. The first attacks burst, deaths fall into the “camps” Catholique S and Protesting S. (Bloody Sunday, 1972: fourteen men are killed at the time of a catholic demonstration not - authorized with Londonderry). It is defended later, in 2003, not to have never authorized the illegal use of the weapons by the troop. The unionistic ones (in favor of the maintenance of Great Britain in Northern Ireland) gradually cease supporting the conservatives at the Parliament, which will lead Heath to resign later. In 1973 however, it succeeds in inserting the country in the European Economic community. But it must face the growing opposition of the trade unions (Trade Unions congress: TUC). The Inflation is gallopping, a doubled energy serious attack of the Oil crisis following the Guerre of Kippour (1973) obliges the country to work only three days per week. With the elections of February 1974, the unionistic members of Parliament of Northern Ireland refuse to support the government. The negotiations also fail with the liberals to form a government and Heath resigns.

Harold Wilson (1974 - 1976) arrives again at the capacity in 1974. It forms a minority government while waiting for the elections of October… where it obtains only one mean majority. The members of the Labor Party want to renegotiate the terms of the agreement of entry in the EEC. The Communes vote to remain in the EEC by renegotiating some the terms but a Référendum (a first in the institutions) confirms the anchoring of Great Britain in the EEC. But the economic crisis perdure… and Wilson resign in March 1976.

James Callaghan (1976 - 1979) had occupied the successive posts of Minister for Finance, Interior, and Foreign affairs under Wilson. Although favorable to the trade unions, it will not follow left-wing policies. Its government is minority and it must be combined to the liberals to form a stable government (the pact “Lib-Lab”). Majority in the surveys, it with the possibility of causing anticipated elections in 1978. It does not do it… what he will regret one year afterwards. The economic problems persist and it is constrained to limit the rises of wages to less than 5% whereas inflation exceeds the 10%. The trade unions refuse this limitation of rise and start hard strikes at the winter 1978. It must then be resigned to increase the wages. Its unpopularity is however growing. The House of Commons passes a motion of distrust in March 1979… except for a voice. It is finished by it and the elections of 1979 are fatal for him. The way is free for the conservatives and Margaret Thatcher.

The Thatcher years

Margaret Thatcher (1979 - 1990) wants to put an end to the economic decline of the country and to at least reduce the role and the capacity of the State in the economy. Despiser of the public office which, said it, led the country to the ruin since the Empire. It is with the tuning fork with the ideas of Ronald Reagan (the Reaganomics ), elected one year after it. It raises the Interest rate to decrease the money supply, prefers the indirect Tax with the Income tax, raises VAT at 15% (a record at that time). The companies, the trade felt the effects of them, and unemployment exceeds the two million. Its reform of the tax takes as a starting point the economist Friedman. Unemployment does not cease climbing (3,6 million officially in 1982 and 5 million semi-officially) even if the Inflation returns to only one figure.

At this point in time occurs, the April 2nd 1982, the Guerre of the Falklands or, for the British, the war of the Falkland Islands. The Argentine asserts these islands for a long time and invades them to set out again about it four days after, with large losses. The approval rating of Mrs. Thatcher who was lowest that had known a Prime Minister in function, goes up then. During this time, the Workers party “is warped” more and more, also moving away from its base.

Margaret Thatcher from now on is determined to reduce to nothing the power Syndicat S. In 1984, long the Grève of the minors lasts one year but they resume work without not to have obtained anything. The trade unions carry out whereas they cannot make fold a regularly elected government. It must also face the Irish Republican Army and its attacks. Having let die of hunger several prisoners who claimed the statute of political prisoners, Margaret Thatcher escapes besides with the attack from the large hotel from Brighton, during the congress of the Conservative party the October 12th 1984.

It begins long series of Privatization S of public goods and companies, which is accompanied by a strong disindustrialization, of a massive rise of unemployment, the tertiary uses in full rise however not managing to compensate for the fall of the industrial employment. Part of this new employment are precarious employment besides, with part times and badly paids because of deregulation of employment: the new United Kingdom is born in the years 1980.

It is of agreement with Ronald Reagan for her defense policy “against” the Soviet Union (Star Wars) to the great displeasure of the European Union which seeks the relaxation and of good relationships. But Mikhaïl Gorbatchev arriving at the capacity in 1985, it revises its hostile position. It supports the air raid against the Libya at the beginning of bases in Great Britain whereas the other members of NATO oppose it.

Michael Heseltine, her Minister for Defense, resigns when it defends the American project of helicopters Sikorsky against the European project Agusta Westland. Thereafter, he is opposed openly to her.

It is the first time that a Prime Minister obtains a third mandate since Lord Palmeston in 1865. She is popular in the majority of the daily newspapers except the Daily Mirror and the Guardian . She is hedge by the left and of many songs are caught some with her. Many thinks that a North-South ditch from now on was created between those which “have of them” (rather easy populations of North: the cuts ) and those which “do not have any” (the cuts not south). The social security, the compensation for the unemployed undergo regulated cuts. The social consensus did not undergo such a regression since the Années 1920.

In 1988, it is opposed to the European proposals tending to increase the federal character and the centralization of the structures of decision of the Union. She recognizes with the Union only one role of facilitator of “ Free trade” and fears that the strategic changes operated by the Union do not destroy the work which she implements in her country. She fights against the monetary and economic union, the single currency then in preparation. The other European countries then start to be wary.

The economy suffers from exorbitant interest rate set up to stop a disproportionate growth. It must face a sling of certain deputies in November 1989 who support a potential rival for it: to sir Anthony Meyer, of which some think that it is a candidature “masked” to put in scene more powerful rivals within his party.

It introduces in Scotland, England and with the Wales the Poll tax , kind of local tax nondecreasing, uniform according to the incomes (and nonproportional), with ridiculous reductions for the low incomes. It is too for its “supporteurs” in Scotland. Other local taxes climb out of arrow, on decision of the central capacity. An immense demonstration against this taxation takes place the March 31st 1990 and degenerates; many refuses to pay and protests in front of the courts. Even the socio-professional ones of the economic sector and commercial, its own base, dispute its economic decisions. It must yield the “high-speed motorboat” and the candidature for the elections of 1990 to its Minister for the Economy and Finances: John Major.

John Major (1990 - 1997)

Prime Minister during the war of the Gulf, it must face the world recession. Given losing to the future elections of 1992 vis-a-vis the Labor leader Neil Kinnock, it conducts a skilful campaign, populist and popular in the streets, perched on a case with soap, as at the good old day! It gains the victory, but accuracy. As soon as with the government, it must manage the exit of the United Kingdom of the currency snake (ERM) the September 16th 1992 (the “black Wednesday”).

The internal competitions are done day but the line thunders within the party and of its cabinet, especially for the ratification of the famous Traité of Maastricht. Its authority is threatened, after a vote of confidence acquired with forty votes of majority only, in 1993. Its defeat with the elections of 1997 is immense: the members of the Labor Party carry it by four hundred and eighteen seats against hundred sixty-five to the conservatives and forty six with the democratic liberals. The new Labor leader, Tony Blair, arrive at the capacity.

Tony Blair (1997 - 2007)

Tony Blair was the charismatic leader of the “ New Labor ” (“new workers party”), converted with the liberal economy and the growth of the social inequalities. Thus, named at once, it charges Gordon Brown, the Minister for the Economy, to grant to the Bank of England the prerogative to fix itself the basic rate of the interest. The party was for a certain time in good terms with City and the economic operators accommodated this measurement favorably. Decided to limit the national debt the first two years, it thus reassured the party favorable to “tax prudence”.

However, from the difficulties are born with Gordon Brown out of matters tax and economic. He having left freehand, it starts to feel isolated great decisions in this field. Better, Brown refused the Turner project on the retirements, defended by Blair. Brown seems the future leader of the party when Blair withdraws himself.

In foreign policy, Blair presents himself as a “europhile” but one cannot say that its acts followed this way much. There prepares its country to accept neither the Euro nor the Accords of Schengen and remains persuaded that Europe must be a large market and not a political and military power, thus supporting the candidatures of almost all the countries of Eastern Europe.

He prefers to align his troops with George W. Bush in the crisis and the Guerre of Iraq in spite of the position of the France and the Germany and to the great displeasure of the British public opinion, less warmonger. The scandals of ill-treatment of Iraqi prisoners and the discovery of its lie on the presence of weapons of massive destruction will deteriorate its popularity. After the attacks of London (July 7th 2005), it launches a security policy aiming at doing the housework in the Londonistan , the islamist mediums of the United Kingdom.

Under the pressure of Labor fractions he resigns in 2007. Gordon Brown is the only candidate with the elections to replace it.

Recent history

After Tony Blair had, as announced, left the capacity on June 27th, 2007, Gordon Brown replaced it and became Prime Minister. It was charged by the Queen with forming a new government and it will undoubtedly lead the workers party to the elections which will have to take place at the latest in June 2010.

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