The Atlantic Charter
The Atlantic Charter was a statement issued on 14 August 1941 that set out American and British goals for the world after the end of World War II.
The charter's adherents signed the Declaration by United Nations on 1 January 1942, which was the basis for the modern United Nations.
The charter's adherents signed the Declaration by United Nations on 1 January 1942, which was the basis for the modern United Nations.
Atlantic Charter
Despite the heroics of the Battle of Britain, the Blitz, El Alamein and D-Day, one of the most significant episodes of World War II for the British Empire was the Atlantic Charter of 1941. This was an agreement that was largely the initiative of US president Roosevelt, with Britain’s premier, Winston Churchill, the reluctant signatory.
A statement of common aims, the charter held that:
Aimed at the reordering of the world when the war ended, the charter spoke of “the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they live”. Despite Churchill’s attempt to pretend otherwise, this could only mean that empires like Britain’s should devolve power as soon as reasonably possible. And the fact that Churchill was prepared to sign it reveals Britain’s determination—desperation even—to keep on the right side of America in the months leading up to Pearl Harbour.
A statement of common aims, the charter held that:
- neither nation sought any aggrandisement;
- they desired no territorial changes without the free assent of the peoples concerned;
- they respected every people’s right to choose its own form of government and wanted sovereign rights and self-government restored to those forcibly deprived of them;
- they would try to promote equal access for all states to trade and to raw materials;
- they hoped to promote worldwide collaboration so as to improve labour standards, economic progress, and social security;
- after the destruction of “Nazi tyranny,” they would look for a peace under which all nations could live safely within their boundaries, without fear or want;
- under such a peace the seas should be free;
- pending a general security through renunciation of force, potential aggressors must be disarmed.
Aimed at the reordering of the world when the war ended, the charter spoke of “the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they live”. Despite Churchill’s attempt to pretend otherwise, this could only mean that empires like Britain’s should devolve power as soon as reasonably possible. And the fact that Churchill was prepared to sign it reveals Britain’s determination—desperation even—to keep on the right side of America in the months leading up to Pearl Harbour.
The signing of the Atlantic Charter
Exercises:
1. Re-read the text, make up a list of necessary vocabulary and answer the following questions:
1) What are the contents of the Atlantic Charter?
2) Which two countries signed it first?
3) How did it influence the British Empire?
4) Whose initiative the Charter originally was?
5) Why did Britain agree to the terms of the Charter?
2. Find in the text the following words and word combinations, find a Russian equivalent for them and add them to your working vocabulary:
signatory; aggrandisement; forcibly deprived; renunciation; devolve.
3. Use the words from the Exercise 2 in your own sentences.
4. Write your summary of the text, emphasising in it:
a) its subject matter,
b) the facts discussed,
c) the author's point of view on these facts.
1) What are the contents of the Atlantic Charter?
2) Which two countries signed it first?
3) How did it influence the British Empire?
4) Whose initiative the Charter originally was?
5) Why did Britain agree to the terms of the Charter?
2. Find in the text the following words and word combinations, find a Russian equivalent for them and add them to your working vocabulary:
signatory; aggrandisement; forcibly deprived; renunciation; devolve.
3. Use the words from the Exercise 2 in your own sentences.
4. Write your summary of the text, emphasising in it:
a) its subject matter,
b) the facts discussed,
c) the author's point of view on these facts.
