The United Kingdom is a country of countries, consisting of four co-equal and sovereign nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each of these nations has a local term for its population, and while they can all be referred to as 'British', it's not recommended due to historical tensions between the nations. The term 'Great Britain' is a geographical term, not a political one, and refers to England, Scotland, and Wales. The second biggest island in the British Isles is Ireland, which is a geographical term and contains two countries: Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The United Kingdom, along with the Republic of Ireland, is a member of the European Union. The former colonies that gained their independence through diplomacy and continue to recognize the authority of the Crown are known as the Commonwealth Realm. There are also Crown Dependencies, which are not considered independent nations but are granted local autonomy by the Crown and a British Citizenship by the United Kingdom. The last group of Crown properties known as British Overseas Territories are the last vestiges of the British Empire and have not become independent nations. They continue to rely on the United Kingdom for military and, sometimes, economic assistance.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The United Kingdom is not a single country, but a country of countries.
2. The United Kingdom is made up of four co-equal and sovereign nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
3. England is the largest and most populous of the four nations.
4. England contains the de facto capital city, London.
5. Each country in the United Kingdom has a local term for its population.
6. The full name of the United Kingdom is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
7. Great Britain is a geographical term that refers to the largest island in the British Isles.
8. Great Britain is often used to refer to England, Scotland, and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.
9. The British Isles include two major islands: Great Britain and Ireland.
10. Ireland is a geographical term, not a country, and contains two countries: Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
11. The Republic of Ireland is a separate country from the United Kingdom.
12. The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are both members of the European Union.
13. The British Empire once spanned 1/4th of the world's land and governed nearly 1/4th of the world's people.
14. Many nations gained independence from the British Empire through diplomacy, not bloodshed.
15. The Commonwealth Realm includes countries that gained independence through diplomacy and still recognize the British Monarchy as the Head of State.
16. The Commonwealth Realm countries include Canada, Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and others.
17. The Crown is a complicated, legal entity that refers to the British Monarchy.
18. The Crown is a one-man corporation that is vested with power from God, according to British tradition.
19. The Crown Dependencies include the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey, which are granted local autonomy by the Crown.
20. The British Overseas Territories are the last vestiges of the British Empire and include Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and others.
21. The British Overseas Territories rely on the United Kingdom for military and economic assistance.