Chapter 5

United Kingdom of
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
Chapter Preview
People
King James VI of Scotland, Queen
Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Margaret
Thatcher

Places
England, Northern Ireland, Scotland,
Wales, English Channel, London,
Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester,
Leeds, Liverpool

Terms
Gulf Stream, Great Smog of 1952,
Industrial Revolution, acid rain,
Parliament of Great Britain, British
Commonwealth of Nations, Brexit,
prime minister, House of Lords, Life
Peerages Act, House of Commons,
constitutional monarchy, Scottish
Parliament, National Health Service
(NHS), British pound (£), embassy,
British-American Business Council of
Georgia

Top: Much of the United Kingdom’s

land is good for grazing and farming.
Background: The Westminster area is
the center of government for the United
Kingdom. The Elizabeth Tower, with its
chiming clock called Big Ben, stands at the
north end of the Palace of Westminster.

88
 Considering that the United States began its history in a war against
Great Britain, it may seem odd that the United States and Britain are
such good friends today. In fact, the United States fought against Britain
twice in its early years—the American Revolutionary War and the War of
1812. Times have changed, however, and the two nations are now strong
friends. Their histories have been tied together, but the United Kingdom
is much older than the United States.
The UK, as it is often called, has provided many ideas that we might
take for granted today. One of those ideas was that a monarch does not
have absolute power. The English had the idea of a parliament that lim-
ited the monarch’s power and spread the power to make government
decisions. Other important ideas can be traced to the United Kingdom:
providing a person accused of a crime with a proper trial by a jury of
peers; forbidding the monarch from taking people’s property without
paying for it; and the right to bear arms.

“
Americans have long been entertained and influenced by British liter-
ature, music, movies, and television. British musicians include Adele, the
Beatles, Coldplay, One Direction, and the Rolling Stones. Musician Elton
John has a home in Atlanta, Georgia, but he is also British. Authors include In war and in peace, in
J. K. Rowling (Harry Potter books), J. R. R. Tolkien (The Hobbit and The prosperity and times
Lord of the Rings), Charles Dickens (A Christmas Carol), C. S. Lewis (the
of economic hardship,
Narnia series), A. A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh books), and Beatrix Potter
(Peter Rabbit books) to name just a few. Television from Britain includes America has no
the Doctor Who series, which ran for more than 35 seasons. Millions of better friend or more
viewers around the world watched Britain’s Downton Abbey. dependable ally than
Britain’s symbols are easy to recognize. Their famous royal family
the United Kingdom.
has its home in Buckingham Palace. Their Parliament meets under the
Elizabeth Tower and its famous chiming clock known as Big Ben. The -L ouis Susman,
Union Jack, the nickname for Britain’s flag, flies not only in the United former
Kingdom but in colonies and on military bases around the world. United States
Soccer, called football in other countries, has its roots in the United ambassador
Kingdom, but it has spread in popularity around the world. David Beck- to the United
ham is one of the sport’s most famous British players. Kingdom
In a political, military, cultural, and economic sense, the United States
has no closer ally than the United Kingdom, and British foreign policy
emphasizes close cooperation with the United States. This cooperation
reflects the common language, ideals, and democratic practices of the
two nations.

Above: Tower Bridge, which spans

the Thames River in London, was
completed in 1894. Its name comes
from its nearness to the Tower of
London.

89
 Chapter 5: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

PASSP RT

Official Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland
Capital: London
Form of Government: parliamentary constitutional
monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Head of State: Monarch
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Currency: British pound (£)

Top: The flag of the United Kingdom

is often called the Union Jack. Middle:
Boris Johnson became prime minister
of the United Kingdom in 2019. Bottom
Left: The currency of the United
Kingdom is the British pound (£).
Bottom Right: The UK’s Parliament
meets at the Palace of Westminster.

90
Introduction

CULTURE Official Language:

C NNECTION English
Terms different from
American English
POPULATION

Apartment building – block of flats

Checkers (game) – draughts
Cookie – biscuit
0 50 million 100 million Cotton candy – candy floss
Crosswalk – zebra crossing
United Kingdom United States
64,430,428 (est. July 2016) 324,386,000 (est. 2017) Diaper – nappy
Population Rank 22 Population Rank 3 Elevator – lift
French fry – chip
ETHNIC GROUPS FUN FACTS Hood (front of a car) – bonnet

n White 87% Britons who reach their 100th Potato chips – crisps
n Black/African/Caribbean/Black British 3% birthday can receive a birthday Second floor (of a building)
n Asian/Asian British: Indian 2% card from the monarch! first floor
n Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 2% Sprinkles (for ice cream) –
n mixed 2% hundreds and thousands
n other 4%
Trunk (of a car) – boot
Vacation – holiday
Z (the letter) – zed

LIFE EXPECTANCY
RELIGION
Average 80.7 years
Male 78.5 years
Christian 60% (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) Female 83 years
Muslim 4%
Hindu 1%
other 2% EDUCATION
unspecified 7% Education Expenditures 5.8% of GDP
Rank 36
none 26%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

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 Chapter 5: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

TIMELINE
Background: HMS Victory. Top Right:
George III was the British king when
the North American colonies declared
OF UNITED KINGDOM HISTORY
independence. Middle Left: US General
Andrew Jackson defeated British
troops at the Battle of New Orleans in Figure 5.1
the War of 1812. Bottom: Big Ben and 1600
1603 Scotland’s James VI inherited the crown of England
its clock tower have been repaired a
number of times since its completion
in 1859.

1694 Bank of England established;

1st paper money issued
1700
1707 Kingdom of Great Britain with
a single parliament formed

1776 13 North American British colonies declared independence

1800 1801 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland created

1812 British attacked the United States in the War of 1812

1859 Clock Tower and Big Ben chiming clock completed

1900
1939 Britain entered World War II
1940 Beginning of Battle of Britain and Blitz
1945 World War II ended
1952 Queen Elizabeth II became monarch upon death of King George VI
Great Smog enveloped London
1958 Life Peerages Act changed membership of House of Lords

2000
2012 Big Ben’s Clock Tower renamed Elizabeth Tower to honor queen’s Diamond Jubilee
2014 Scottish vote for independence failed
2016 “Brexit” vote signaled UK’s break from the EU

92
Introduction

Map 5.1
United Kingdom of
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland

Map Skill: What bodies of

water surround the United
Kingdom?

Area: 94,058 sq mi
Area Rank: 80

Natural Resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc,
gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate,
arable land

Environmental Issues: continues to reduce greenhouse gas emis-

sions; by 2005 the government reduced the amount of industrial and
commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85 percent of 1998 lev-
els and recycled or composted at least 25 percent of household waste,
increasing to 33 percent by 2015

93
 Chapter 5: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Section 1

The Geography
of the United
Kingdom
As you read, look for
The prime meridian
(0° longitude) passes u the importance of location for the United Kingdom;
through Greenwich, u the effect of the Gulf Stream on the climate of the
England. This line United Kingdom;
separates the eastern and
u causes of air pollution in Britain;
western hemispheres.
u ways the British have worked to improve air quality;
u terms: Gulf Stream, Great Smog of 1952, Industrial
Revolution, acid rain.

Location and Size of the United Kingdom

In Other Words The United Kingdom is a country of islands off the northwest coast of
mainland Europe. It is in the northern hemisphere. Most of the United
The term United Kingdom,
or UK, is the correct way Kingdom is in the western hemisphere, but a small portion of it is in the
to refer to this country, but eastern hemisphere, along with most of Europe. It lies along latitudes that
often people incorrectly usually have a colder climate than the United Kingdom such as those in
use Great Britain, Britain, Canada, Russia, and the southern tip of Alaska.
or England to mean the The country consists of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and
United Kingdom.
Wales. The location of the United Kingdom makes it a hub for trade
with other countries. Directly across the English Channel from the
United Kingdom is France,
west across the Irish Sea is the
Republic of Ireland, northeast
across the North Sea is the
Scandinavian Peninsula, and
to the east are Belgium, the
Netherlands, Denmark, and
Germany. As an island coun-
try with numerous ports and
harbors, the United Kingdom
once dominated world trade.
Today, there are ten major
ports along the coast.

94
Section 1: The Geography of the United Kingdom

The airspace around the UK’s capital, London, is among the busiest and Bottom: The Gulf Stream crosses the
most crowded in the world. Heathrow is the busiest airport with about 75 Atlantic Ocean and warms Ireland
million passengers passing through per year. When you include London’s and the western coasts of England,
other airports, the city has more than 155 million air passengers in a year. Scotland, and Wales.
Location can be the key in success. Location has helped the United
Kingdom become an international banking and insurance center. Between
London, England, and Edinburgh, Scotland, the United Kingdom has
more foreign bank branches than any country in the world. Businesses
of all types—from clothing to cars to computers—trade goods within
the borders of the United Kingdom and sell goods all over Europe. Its
location on the Atlantic Ocean helps it trade with the United States, the
UK’s number-one trading partner.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
Climate of the United Kingdom International Airport is
The United Kingdom has a mild climate with rainfall occurring the world’s busiest
throughout the year. Almost no section goes without rain for longer than with over 100 million
three weeks. The southeastern parts of Great Britain are protected by passengers in 2016.
mountains from the wind blowing in from the Atlantic, so they are the
driest areas. The rest of the country has mild, wet weather. The highlands
of Scotland are the wettest. The temperature changes with the seasons.
Winters are mild and wet. Snowfalls are not very deep and usually occur
in the mountains. Summers are warmest in the south. The warm climate
keeps ports free of ice and open for trade all year. This is important for In Other Words
businesses as they never have to close down for seasonal weather. They
People in the United
are free to trade and work in all seasons. Warm waters and winds from Kingdom may be
the Gulf Stream affect the climate of the United Kingdom. The Gulf described as British, but
Stream moves warm water along the coast of North America. It crosses they are not all English.
the Atlantic Ocean and warms Ireland and the western coasts of England, There are also Scots,
Scotland, and Wales. Other areas of the world along the same latitude as Irish, and Welsh people
in the United Kingdom.
the United Kingdom have cold and harsh winters. The Gulf Stream makes
UK winters much milder. The climate is good for farming. The land is
good, or arable, for farming too. Much of the land is used for grazing
and agriculture because of the mild climate, but less than 2 percent of
the people earn their living as farmers.

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 Chapter 5: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Distribution of People in the United Kingdom

Long ago, most people in the United Kingdom lived in small villages
or farms. Even today, the countryside of Britain has many small farms
and villages. Today, however, most people live in urban areas where jobs
are more available. About 83 percent of UK citizens live in urban areas,
and that percentage is on the rise. The state of Georgia is less urban than
the United Kingdom at about 75 percent urban.
The city of London has a With an area of about 93,000 square miles and a population of 60
population of about 8.7
million, the United Kingdom has a population density of about 645 people
million. That is only 1.4
million less than the entire per square mile. That makes the United Kingdom much more densely
state of Georgia. populated than Georgia’s 171 people per square mile. In the United King-
dom, Scotland has the least dense population and England the most. The
highest concentrations of people are in the metropolitan areas of London,
Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool.
Access to good ports and available workers
can cause a city’s population to rise. The city
of Liverpool is one example. Liverpool is a port
city with easy access for immigrants to enter as
workers. Manufacturing companies need work-
ers and a way to import materials and export
their finished goods. Other factors can encourage
a city’s growth such as good roads, attractive
parks, access to clean water, and a cultural life
that others want to join.

Above: The streets of densely

populated London are often crowded
with workers, residents, and tourists.
Bottom: Though most UK residents live
in urban areas, the British countryside
still has many small villages like this
one.

96
Section 1: The Geography of the United Kingdom

Natural Resources of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has many valuable natural resources within
its borders. Coal, petroleum, natural gas, and iron ore are all important
resources that are found
in the United Kingdom.
These resources form the
backbone of the country’s
industry: auto production,
steel manufacturing, and
shipbuilding. Other UK nat-
ural resources include lead,
zinc, gold, tin, limestone,
salt, clay, chalk, gypsum,
potash, sand, and slate.
Today, manufacturing
is declining because these
natural resources are be-
ing used up and industry is
shifting to cleaner forms of
energy. Competition with
other countries has also increased. This has led to a loss of manufacturing
jobs in the United Kingdom. Many people who once held jobs in mining
and manufacturing are being retrained for jobs in service industries. In
the United Kingdom, nearly 80 percent of the people work in service
industries. These include
tourism, health care, edu-
cation, banking, and insur-
ance. Often people must
move to more urban areas
to find new jobs and must
work for lower wages than
previous jobs provided.
Fishing is profitable along
the shores of the United
Kingdom. The fishing in-
dustry provides catches of
crabs and other shellfish,
cod, herring, and mackerel.
These are used in popular
UK dishes or exported to
other countries.
Nearly 25 percent of the
country has land that is suit-
able for growing crops. Over half of the land in the United Kingdom is
used for farms. A large amount of arable land means the country can Top: The United Kingdom drills for
produce about 60 percent of its own food. Farms with herds of sheep, oil and natural gas in the North Sea.
beef cattle, dairy cattle, and pigs are dependent on the land to keep their Above: This coal-burning power
businesses going. Crops grown in the United Kingdom include wheat, station serves the city of Nottingham,
barley, oats, potatoes, and sugar beets. England.

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 Chapter 5: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Environmental Issues of the United Kingdom

London has had a problem with air pollution. In fact, the word smog
(fog mixed with smoke) was first used in 1905 to describe the air in Lon-
don. Smog is air pollution caused by sunlight acting on the gases from
factory exhausts. It sometimes hangs over cities in the United Kingdom.
Thick London smog happens when water in the air mixes with smoke
particles from a coal fire. In the Great Smog of 1952, the smog was so
dense that, for four days, the people in London could not see what was
in front of them. Transportation slowed, crime increased, and thousands
of people died from the harmful pollution. People around the world
suddenly were frightened. They began to worry about the quality of the
air they were breathing.
The United Kingdom’s major natural resources are oil, natural gas, and
coal. Much of the kingdom’s manufacturing burns these fossil fuels. The
Industrial Revolution (the major change in the economy marked by
the introduction of power-driven machinery) began around the coalfields
where fuel was cheap and available. These coalfields provided jobs for
many people in the United Kingdom. Today, coal from these fields still
fuels the country’s power plants. It also burns in fireplaces and stoves in
many homes. The modern use of coal is giving way to a more favorable
clean source of energy. Therefore, this means fewer jobs for workers in
the coal mining industry.
In the past, the major source of air pollution was smoke and sulfur
dioxide from burning coal or other fossil fuels. Today, exhaust from gas-
oline- and diesel-powered vehicles is the major problem. Asthma and
pneumonia are linked to vehicle emissions. This makes people concerned
about the link between air pollution and health. Air pollution burns the
lungs, nose, and eyes and endangers human life. High
air pollution keeps children and senior citizens indoors.
Air pollution also blackens buildings and threatens
wildlife. As far back as the 1300s, King Edward I tried
to solve the problem by banning coal fires.

Top: Nelson’s Column in London’s

Trafalgar Square was almost hidden
from view by the Great Smog of 1952.
Above: London policemen, who are
called “Bobbies,” had to wear masks
to protect themselves from the
smog. Right: During the Great Smog,
transportation slowed, crime increased,
and thousands of people died.

98
Section 1: The Geography of the United Kingdom

After the Great Smog, the

government created smoke-
less zones in London where
only smokeless fuels could
be used. Cleaner coals and
an increased use of electric-
ity and gas for heating have To reduce traffic and
reduced air pollution. Today, lower pollution, a fee
of about $14 per day is
the government sets lim-
charged to drive a car into
its for industry. Laws have central London.
forced automakers to build
vehicles that produce less
harmful exhaust. The
government reg-
ularly checks air quality. It also asks citizens to drive less
and use cleaner forms of energy. Londoners no longer
experience the blackout smog of the 1950s. Although
the United Kingdom still ranks among the top ten in
the world in harmful industrial emissions, air quality
has improved. Air pollution blows eastward from the
United Kingdom and continues to cause acid rain in
many countries in Western Europe. Acid rain is rain
with increased acidity that is caused by air pollutants
and other environmental factors.
Another environmental concern in Britain is loss
of habitat for native plants and animals. Expanding
urban areas take more land. As human populations
increase, more land is needed for farming. Both of these
actions put a strain on the environment. It is estimated
that at least 500 species have become extinct in Britain in
the past 200 years. Currently, over 900 species are listed as at risk
for extinction in Britain.
Figure 5.2
Reviewing the Section Acid Rain
1. How is the United Kingdom’s location a good one
for business?
2. How does the warm water of the Gulf Stream along
the coast of North America affect temperatures in
the United Kingdom?
3. How have declining deposits of natural resources
begun to change Britain’s manufacturing industry?
4. What has been the main cause of air pollution in
Britain? What has the country done to correct these
problems?
5. Deeper Thinking: With the variety of jobs and
resources available in the United Kingdom, how
does the climate affect where people live and Top: The harmful chemicals in acid rain
where they work?
can damage sculptures and buildings.

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 Chapter 5: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Below: One of two replicas of the

Golden Hind, the first English ship to
Section 2

A Brief History
sail around the world, can be found in
Brixham Harbour, Devon.

of the United
Kingdom
As you read, look for
u how the British Empire grew over time;
u the effects of the world wars on the United
Kingdom;
u the importance of the United Kingdom as a world
leader;
u terms: Parliament of Great Britain, British
Commonwealth of Nations, Brexit.

The Age of Exploration and Colonization

The history of the United Kingdom as a unified country began in
1603 when King James VI of Scotland also inherited the crown of the
Kingdom of England, which included Wales. For the next 100 years, the
two countries shared a monarch but had different parliaments. In 1707, a
single Parliament of Great Britain was established along with an official
name change to the Kingdom of Great Britain. With the addition of the
Kingdom of Ireland in 1801, the country became the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland.

100
Section 2: A Brief History of the United Kingdom

The British Empire once covered the largest territory in history. At its
peak, the United Kingdom controlled Canada, Australia, India, much of
eastern Africa, and numerous islands around the world. North America
came under the control of Great Britain and France during the 18th centu-
ry, but Great Britain won the rivalry and gained control of North America.
After the United States became an independent country following the
American Revolutionary War, Britain maintained control over Canada
until the 20th century when Canadians also gained independence.
Great Britain colonized the continent of Australia and many islands
along its trade routes. During the 19th century and into the early 20th
century, Britain’s influence grew. By the 1920s, almost one-fourth of the
world’s population was under British control. The British Empire spanned
so much of the globe, the sun was literally shining upon some part of the
Empire every moment of a 24-hour period. People would say that “The
sun never sets on the British Empire.”

The Effects of World War II

In World War II, the Soviet Union, Nationalist China, and the United
States joined Britain as the Allied powers. Britain and its Empire fought a
successful war against Germany, Italy, and Japan. The cost was extraor-
dinary and Britain no longer had the wealth to maintain its territory, so
it granted independence to most of the Empire. The new independent
nations joined together as the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Today, the United Kingdom is a leading member of the UN and NATO.
Top Left: Queen Victoria reigned
As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a
from 1837 to 1901. The Victorian era
founding member of NATO and of the Commonwealth, the United King-
was marked by a great expansion of
dom pursues a universal approach to foreign policy and maintains vested
the British Empire. Victoria added
interests in many aspects of the worldwide community.
“Empress of India” to her list of titles.

101
 special
Feature
The London Blitz
During 1940, Germany was continuing to
conquer land in Europe as part of World War II.
The United Kingdom was one of the main countries
that were still able to fight the German Nazis. The
Battle of Britain, which was an air battle, raged over
the English Channel. The waterway was all that
separated the British Isles from the Nazi army. The
Luftwaffe, or German air force, focused on bombing
airfields and radar stations in England. However, in
September 1940, their strategy changed. Hitler
decided that the Luftwaffe should start bombing
London in an effort to frighten the people. He
hoped this action would encourage Britain to pull
out of the war.
On September 7, 1940, 348 bombers launched the first air strike
on London. In fact, it was not just one attack but two! The first
attack started in the late afternoon and lasted for two hours. The
next attack came later at night. About 480 people were killed in
the first attack and many more were wounded. This was the start
of 57 days straight of bombings in London. It was called the Blitz
as a shortened version of the German word Blitzkrieg, which means
“lightning war.” The targets in London included St. Paul’s Cathedral,
the Palace of Westminster where Parliament meets, Buckingham
Palace, and the West End. Other cities—like Bristol, Nottingham,
Liverpool, and Plymouth—were also bombed. Hitler, however, spared
the city of Oxford because he planned to make that the capital of
England once he had conquered it.

Background: The photograph St. Paul’s Survives

shows St. Paul’s Cathedral in London surrounded by
smoke and fire. The photo became a symbol of British
resilience in the Blitz. Top: London’s Underground
(subway) stations served as bomb shelters for up to
177,000 people each night of the Blitz. Middle: In the
first mass German air raid on London during World
War II, Tower Bridge stands out against a background
of smoke and fire.

102
 The effects of the Blitz were
devastating. Over one-third of
London was destroyed, including 19
churches. In the first 30 days alone,
over 6,000 people were killed and
over 12,000 seriously wounded.
Over 30,000 bombs were dropped
on London and other cities between
September and November. The
citizens were forced to take shelter
wherever they could, which often
ended up being in the Underground,
or subway, stations. At this point,
there were 79 tube (Underground)
stations, and some of them served
as bomb shelters for up to 177,000
people each night.
The spirit of the British people would not be broken. In fact, the
unofficial motto during this time was “We can take it.” They placed
400 million sandbags in front of buildings to protect them and
distributed 40 million gas masks. Many children were sent to rural
areas where they would be safe from the bombings. Volunteers
worked continuously to rescue people from the rubble and put
out fires. People planted victory gardens in bombed-out areas to
grow food. The Blitz ended on May 11, 1941. Hitler changed strategies
again. He realized that the Blitz was not demoralizing the people.
Additionally, he needed the Luftwaffe support as Germany prepared
to invade the Soviet Union. While this is a tragic period in British
history, it also shows the resilience of the British people. Can you
recall a time in your life when you have had to show resilience?

Top and Above: Over one-third of

London was destroyed in the bombing.

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 Chapter 5: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Below: The 2016 referendum to leave Changing Relationships

or stay in the European Union brought Since the 1990s, however, independence movements in North-
out citizens on both sides of the issue ern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have brought into question the
who were passionate about their point degree of unity of this union. Although voters in a 2014 refer-
of view. In the end, the people voted endum on Scottish independence rejected the proposal with 55
to leave the EU in a move called the percent voting to remain part of the United Kingdom, there are
Brexit. many who believe Scotland will one day vote for independence.
The United Kingdom has also been a leading member of the European
Union (EU). However, in 2016, the people of the United Kingdom voted
to break away from the European Union. This move is commonly called
the Brexit (a quick way of saying the words Britain and exit). The overall
UK turnout for the vote was almost 72 percent of voters, with 52 percent
of people voting to leave the European Union and 48 percent voting to
remain. England and Wales voted strongly for Brexit, but Scotland and
Northern Ireland both voted to remain in the European Union. The
Brexit vote shocked many people in the European Union and the United
Kingdom. The actions to remove Britain from the European Union were
expected to take several years to complete.

Reviewing the Section

1. How was the size of the British Empire described in
this section?
2. What countries make up the United Kingdom?
3. What effect did World War II have on the British
Empire?
4. How has the United Kingdom maintained an
important role in world affairs? How do strong allies
assist the United Kingdom in being a powerful force
in the 21st century?

104