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During this war, you will find in the British Commonwealth and Empire good friends who are united with you by more than our shared policy and need. To some extent there are also the ties of blood. As a child of both Britain and America, I am naturally conscious of these. Law, language and literature are all factors that we are united by, as well as shared understanding of what is right and decent, love for fair-play (especially to the weak & poor), a belief in justice, and above all the love of personal freedom. We believe in these as strongly as you do. Tyranny is our enemy. We fight tyranny wherever it is and whatever disguise it wears, whatever language it speaks, be it external or internal, we must be for ever on our guard, ever ready, ever vigilant, always ready to spring at its throat. In all this we march together. Not only do we march and stand together in this war, but also in those ideas that support the rights and the dignity of all people.
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Throughout In all this ordeal and struggle which is the characteristic of our age, you will find in the British Commonwealth and Empire good comrades to whom you are united by other ties besides those of State policy and public need. To some extent there are the ties of blood. Naturally I, a child of both worlds, am conscious of these. Law, Language, Literature - these are considerable factors; common conceptions of what is right and decent, a marked test zest for of fair-play especially to the weak & poor, a stern sentiment of justice [between....&.... - deleted] and above all the love of personal freedom, or as Kipling put it: "Leave to live by no man's live leave underneath the law." We hold to these conceptions as strongly as you do. Tyranny is our foe. We do not war with races as such. Whatever trappings or disguise it wears, whatever language it speaks, be it external or internal, we must be for ever on our guard, ever mobilized, ever vigilant, always ready to spring at its throat. In all [thise - deleted] this we march together. Not only do we march and strive together at this moment on the fields of war, but also in those realms of thought which are consecrated to the rights and the dignity of man.
This is an extract from a speech, which Churchill made at the University of Harvard in America on receiving an honorary degree as a mark of respect for his leadership during the war.
Churchill was visiting Harvard University in America to receive an honorary degree and gave this speech, the entirety of which is nine pages long. Throughout the speech Churchill talks about the importance of the unity and shared beliefs of the British and American people and the shared language and beliefs that tie them together. This was the first time Churchill publically suggested some kind of “common citizenship”.
Churchill refers to his own dual heritage in the speech because his mother (Lady Randolph Churchill) was American. He emphasises the importance of shared history for the two countries, using it as justification for the fight against Nazi Germany. During the speech he talks about the importance of other allies, including the Soviet Union, but he emphasises how important the relationship is between Britain and America, stating that if they stand together then they can achieve anything but if they are divided then the world will fall into tyranny.
Churchill was offered hundreds of other honours during the war (including honorary degrees and freedoms of cities) but put off accepting almost all of them until the war was over because of the pressures of the war.
Remember we are hoping that this source can be useful to us in investigating what was special about the relationship between Britain and America in the latter years of the Second World War. Sources usually help historians in two ways:
Which of the inferences below can be made from this source?
On a scale of 1-5 how far do you agree that this source supports this inference? | Which extract(s) from the source support your argument? | |
Churchill believes that there is not much difference between British and American people | ||
Churchill believes that Britain and America have a special role in the world | ||
Churchill believes that Britain and America’s ties go beyond just fighting in the war together | ||
There was a special relationship between Britain and America during WW2 |
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