Browse Exhibits (1 total)

This collection includes digital materials posted after the "Brexit" vote that took place in the United Kingdom, a referendum poised to British voters on June 23, 2016 whether to leave or remain in the European Union. This referendum came as a result of a campaign promise made by former Prime Minister David Cameron, that if the Conservative Party should win a general majority in the 2015 parliamentary elections, the government would negotiate better arrangements to continue British membership before holding a referendum whether or not to leave the EU, of which the UK had been a member since 1973. The vote was close, with those who voted "leave" at 51.9% and those who voted "remain" at 48.1%. The process of leaving the EU has already begun, with a tentative plan to officially leave by 2019.

The collection consists of news articles and blog posts, Twitter posts, and YouTube videos, focused on why people voted the way they did, whether they had regret for their vote afterwards, and how some are now being (or could potentially be) impacted by the "leave" vote.

The importance of this collection stems from the Brexit vote being one of the most important political events in recent British history. The ramifications of voting to leave the EU will be felt in the short and long term, with the future consequences to the UK, the EU, and even the world still left to be seen.