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As the nations of mainland Europe become tightly bound together politically, economically and militarily, what are the consequences of England's more-independent path?
by Melvin Rhodes
recent article in The European showed that
"Britain faces increasing isolation as negotiations over
the revision of the Maastricht treaty come to a head" (September
5-11). Nations on the Continent fear that "Britain's reluctance
to accept any radical revisions in the treaty could still seriously
inhibit the (treaty) process."
Before we consider the state of English affairs, we should sketch in some historical background.
One of the most significant events in English history was the Norman Conquest, which followed the Battle of Hastings in 1066. England's King Harold was defeated by the armies of a Norman, Duke William, whose kingdom occupied what is now northern France.
From that point, for 400 years, England's kings, descendants of William the Conqueror, ruled not only England but parts of France. During this time they also acquired Wales, which became a part of the English kingdom.
One of England's greatest monarchs, Elizabeth I, died in 1603, leaving no heirs. Her nearest relative was her cousin Mary Queen of Scots' son, King James VI of Scotland, who was invited to London to become James I of England. James now ruled both kingdoms, which he named Great Britain. The whole island was for the first time then united under one crown. In the early 1700s Scotland and England formally united, with one parliament for the whole island.
To the west, Ireland had become an English possession under the reign of Henry II (1154-1189). In 1801 it formally united with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom. The full union of all the nations of the British Isles contributed greatly to the preeminence of the British Empire in world affairs during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Scots and Irish served disproportionately in the military and were great colonizers, settling in British possessions throughout the world.
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