The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union (EU) on Thursday, shocking the world and leading to the resignation of British Prime Minister David Cameron. More than 30 million British citizens voted on the referendum for whether or not the United Kingdom should remain in the EU’s economic and political union. Ultimately, 52 percent voted to leave, while 48 percent voted to remain. The long-term economic and political effects of what has become known as the Brexit vote are still-unknown, but already more than two million British citizens have signed an online petition calling for another referendum since the original vote was so close. “I feel that people don’t know what they voted for,” said Laura Hanford a supporter of the “Remain” campaign. The United Kingdom is the first nation to decide to leave since the EU was established almost 20 years ago. Now leaders of the other members say they must focus on maintaining stability to ensure no more nations leave the EU.

referendum — a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision European Union (EU) — a group of 27 countries that operates as a cohesive economic and political block. Nineteen of the countries use the euro as their official currency

Warm up questions ( before watching the video)

1. What is the European Union?


2. What is the difference between England and the United Kingdom?


3. What is the purpose of a referendum?

Critical thinking questions ( after watching the video)

1. What were some of the immediate effects of Brexit?


2. Why are some British citizens unhappy with the results of Brexit?


3. Why has Brexit made other members of the European Union worried?