Territories of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is unique in that it is confusing even to many people who live there. You see, the British Isles are divided into two countries, both independent states in international law. The first country is Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and the second, the Republic of Ireland. The constituent parts of the United Kingdom include England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, which do not have legislatures with their own exclusive jurisdiction.

For centuries, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have been considered nations, and still are by many. Therefore, making up the United Kingdom is Great Britain and Northern Ireland, thus the official name of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Now to confuse things further, the United Kingdom includes three jurisdictions that have never been a part of England, Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, nor are they are part of the United Kingdom ruled by the Queen. These include the Isle of Man, which is located between England, Ireland, Scotland, and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey in the Irish Sea.

The United Kingdom has other colonies off the Pacific and Caribbean, each being smaller with populations less than 70,000. The full, official name called The United Kingdom, Islands, and Colonies, is seldom used. Most often, the United Kingdom is believed to be Britain or British. The people living in the United Kingdom are indeed British citizens although they are not from Britain necessarily. Yes, it is confusing as mentioned but just keep in mind that the United Kingdom is comprised of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Although you will often hear the United Kingdom called England, Great Britain, or Britain, this actually means very little. For instance, England is just one part of the United Kingdom while Great Britain or Britain is the geological name for the largest of the British Isles, which includes smaller islands but not Ireland. Regardless, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the North Sea, the Celtic Sea, the English Channel, the Irish Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. The modern country as we know it today is the result of the partition of Ireland in 1922.

Dating back to the 10th century, England and Scotland were separate entities. Wales on the other hand fell under English rule but in 1536, became a part of the Kingdom of England. Then with the Act of Union 1707, England, and Scotland, which had both been separate kingdoms since 1603, decided to joint the union of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Next, the Act of Union 1800 further united the Kingdom of Great Britain with the Kingdom or Ireland.

Unfortunately, this decision was unpopular created major concerns, made worse by fear of a Napoleon invasion. However, after bitter fighting in 1922, Ireland was partitioned into the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland in accordance to the Anglo-Irish Treaty. However, Northern Ireland, which is comprised of nine countries, decided to remain a free state and stay with the United Kingdom. Shortly after in 1927 after Ireland left, the official name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was created.

During the 19th century, the United Kingdom played a pivotal role in the development of the western world regarding liberty, parliamentary, capitalism, democracy, and property. In the early part of the 20th century, the United Kingdom was devastated by World War I, and then World War II. The British Empire was dismantled and the United Kingdom was left to rebuild its nation. However, the United Kingdom is strong and the people loyal so with years of hard work and dedication, the country began to thrive.

Today, the United Kingdom is a part of a constitutional monarchy, power governed by the Queen. One of the interesting aspects of this is that the United Kingdom is just one a few countries in the world that does not have a codified constitution. Instead, this country is run strongly on tradition. Because of this, the monarch has great powers and is an integral part of the Parliament. When visiting the United Kingdom today, you will still see and feel this power. For example, the Palace of Westminster, located on the River Thames is an amazing place to see, a powerful and rich sight, as seen in the photograph.

The current population of the United Kingdom is around 60 million, making it the third largest country in the European Union just behind Germany and France. In fact, the United Kingdom is so large that it sits at number 21 in the world. Approximately 35% of the population lives in the prosperous southeast portion of England and about seven million in London, the capital city. Because of the incredible education system, the United Kingdom ranks at 99% for literacy! In fact, all children from age 5 to 16 are required to attend school.

The United Kingdom is also well known for many famous people such as William Shakespeare, the most famous writer in the world and even today’s famous Harry Potter writer, J.K. Rowling along with Charles Dickens and J.R.R. Rolkien. Composers have also come out of the United Kingdom, some that include John Taverner, Henry Purcell, Sir Arthur Sullivan, and Benjamin Britten, among others. Even famous pop stars are associated with the United Kingdom, the most profound being the Beatles. However, others include the Sex Pistols, The Rolling Stones, Queen, and Sir Cliff Richard.

Just as the United Kingdom is rich in music and literature, it is also a country devoted to a number of sports such as cricket, boxing, golf, and football. In fact, in south London, the famous Wimbledon Championships are held, being the most prestigious of all tennis tournaments in history. The United Kingdom is diverse. While it sounds complicated at first, and the history does require some getting used to, this country is impressive to say the least, making it an excellent travel destination for people of all ages.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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