1_The United Kingdom Overview 2

1_The_UK_factfile_1 32
1_The_UK_factfile_2 41
2_British History Overview 49
2_Science and Technology 68
3_Politics_Short summary 80
4_Politics_Political system 83
5_International Relations 93
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

91
 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.

97
 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.

99
 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.

103
 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
Section 3: The Government of the United Kingdom

Section 3

The Government
of the United
Kingdom
As you read, look for
u different membership and duties of the two Houses
of Parliament;
u the role of the monarch in the UK’s constitutional
monarchy;
u different court systems in England and Wales,
Northern Ireland, and Scotland;
u how citizens participate in electing members of the
House of Commons;
u terms: prime minister, House of Lords, Life Peerages
Act, House of Commons, constitutional monarchy,
Scottish Parliament.

Structure of Government
The government of the United Kingdom consists of several parts. There
is the monarch, who serves as head of state in mostly ceremonial and
symbolic roles. There is a prime minister, who enforces the laws and
manages the day-to-day operation of the country as head of government.
There is a lawmaking body called the Parliament of Great Britain. There
is also an independent court system.

Above: Boris Johnson became prime

minister in 2019 when Theresa May
resigned after her party called for her
to step down. He has been a strong
advocate for a swift Brexit. Bottom:
Number 10 Downing Street is the
headquarters of the Government of
the United Kingdom and the official
residence of the prime minister.

105
 Chapter 5: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Below: The House of Lords and the The Parliament is composed of the House of Lords and the House of
House of Commons meet in the Palace Commons. These bodies compare to the United States Senate and House
of Westminster, London. Middle: of Representatives. The House of Lords is made up of members who
Interiors of the Scottish Parliament. are appointed by the monarch upon recommendation from the prime
Bottom: The Scottish Parliament minister. Historically, to obtain a seat in the House of Lords, a person
meets in this postmodern building in had to have a title of Lord bestowed by the monarch. Once the seat was
Edinburgh, which was completed in given, it was passed down from generation to generation in a family line.
2004. In 1958, the Life Peerages Act was introduced to include members from
various professions and to include more women. Because these are no
longer inherited positions, a life peer must be nominated by the prime
minister. If there is no challenge from the opposing political party, the
monarch appoints the new members to the House of Lords. There are
about 760 members of the House of Lords. Most are appointees by the
monarch, but there are about 90 members who have retained their seats
from their family lines. The House of Lords has little actual lawmaking
power. Instead, it can make suggestions of ways to improve a bill that is
on its way to becoming law.
The other house of British Parliament is the House of Commons.
The 650 members of this house are directly elected by voters for five-year
terms. The power of the House of Commons comes from its control of
the budget. Although traditionally considered the lower house, the House
of Commons has the majority of power for taxes, spending, and money
measures, and has more actual legislative power than the House of Lords.
Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
The monarch is considered a part of Parliament too as the head of state.
The United Kingdom is classified as a constitutional monarchy because
the country is ruled by a monarch (a king or queen) whose power is lim-
ited by a constitution. Day-to-day government business operates under
the parliamentary system with the prime minister as the chief executive.
Scotland has its own unicameral Parliament consisting of 129 elected
officials called Members of Scottish Parliament (MSPs). In 1997, the Scot-
tish people voted to restore their Scottish Parliament, which had been
dissolved in 1707. At the time, other UK countries voted for conservative
members of Parliament with whom the Scottish disagreed. In 1999, the
Scottish Parliament met for the first time in almost 300 years, and the
Scottish people continue to gain political influence. Now the Scottish
National Party (SNP) has become the largest political party in Scotland
and the third-largest party in the British Parliament’s House of Commons.
The courts of the United Kingdom are separated into Courts of England
and Wales, Courts of Northern Ireland, and Courts of Scotland. There
is a Supreme Court of the United Kingdom that is the nation’s highest
court. The different court systems have slight differences in law based on
their traditions and customs. The courts operate independently from the
monarch even though they are called “Her Majesty’s Courts.”

106
Section 3: The Government of the United Kingdom

Citizen Participation
Citizens of the United Kingdom elect mem-
bers of the House of Commons in a general
election. Of the 650 members, 533 are from
England, 40 from Wales, 59 from Scotland, and
18 from Northern Ireland. After the election,
the leader of the political party with the most
members in the House of Commons is asked
by the monarch to form a government and
select a prime minister who will be the head
of the government and run the government on
a day-to-day basis.
As the official head of state, the monarch
is a symbol of the country and is sometimes
referred to as “the crown.” The monarch’s
duties are mostly ceremonial and are restricted
by the laws of the United Kingdom.
Citizens in the United Kingdom have person-
al freedoms like those in the United States. All
citizens are treated equally and have the right
to worship as they choose. British citizens have
freedom of speech, the right to a fair trial, the
right to own property, and the right to security.
Their lives are very similar to our lives in the
United States. They can choose where to work
and live and can vote in important elections to
select the lawmakers for the country.

Reviewing the Section

1. What type of democracy does the United Kingdom
have?
2. How is the chief executive of the government
chosen?
3. What is the difference between the head of
state and the head of government in the United
Kingdom?
4. How do the citizens determine the leaders of the
government in the United Kingdom?
5. How do the members of Parliament gain their
seats? Compare the House of Commons and the
House of Lords. From which house is the prime
minister elected? Above: Both the “Vote Leave” and
6. Deeper Thinking: Even though the monarch is a “Britain Stronger in Europe” sides
ceremonial leader, do you think the crown has any campaigned heavily before the Brexit
influence over the governing bodies in the United referendum of June 2016. These
Kingdom? How closely do the head of state and “Vote Leave” advocates handed out
chief executive work together? information in the town of St. Ives in
Cambridgeshire.

107
 special
Feature
Her Majesty the Queen
Elizabeth the Second (Elizabeth II) has served longer than any
monarch in British history. She began her reign in 1952 and has
continued into the 21st century.
Born in 1926, Princess Elizabeth
was well educated and learned
about life in the royal court, but
she was not expected to become
the monarch. It was believed
she would have a somewhat
normal life as a member of the
United Kingdom’s larger royal
family. However, when her uncle
abdicated, or gave up, the role
of king, Elizabeth’s father took over. That put Elizabeth next in line
to be monarch after her father.
During World War II, Elizabeth became a military truck driver and
mechanic. These were important roles that surprised and inspired
many people. It was unusual for a woman,
much less a princess, to take on this type
of work. After the war, Elizabeth married
Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark.
Their marriage in 1947 was followed by
the birth of three sons and a daughter.

Background: Princess Elizabeth served

as a military truck driver and mechanic
in World War II. Top: Princess Margaret
and Princess Elizabeth (sounding the
whistle) rode aboard the Royal Train
during a Royal Visit to South Africa in
1947. Middle: The coronation of Queen
Elizabeth II took place in London’s
Westminster Abbey in 1953. Bottom:
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip rode
in the Queen’s Birthday Parade in 2015.
108
 After the death of her father
King George VI in 1952, Elizabeth
became queen. During the late 20th and 21st centuries, the United
Kingdom’s relationship with some of its colonies was changing. In
many European countries, royal families were removed from power.
In some cases, they were asked to leave their countries. Even in
England, some people were wondering if having a sovereign made
sense when the country elected all of its other government leaders.
Elizabeth’s example as a hard-working woman dedicated to helping
her people has made her a popular leader, however. Efforts to
change the laws to remove the sovereign in the United Kingdom
have not been successful.
As the monarch of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth is also
sovereign to a number of other countries. These countries were
once colonies of Great Britain, just as the state of Georgia once
was. Her official title as British sovereign is Elizabeth II, by the
Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the
Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. The “Commonwealth” is
the Commonwealth of Nations. This is a group of 52 nations that
were once British territories but are now independent. The exact
relationship between Elizabeth and these countries varies. The
queen serves as the symbolic leader in all Commonwealth nations,
but she is queen of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand as well as
Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea,
the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Top Left: Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Diamond

Jubilee in 2012. Top Right: US President Ronald Reagan
and Queen Elizabeth II rode together in 1982. Bottom:
Crowds gather in front of Buckingham Palace when
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip make an appearance
on the balcony of their London home.
109
 Chapter 5: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Below: London’s skyline contains many

distinctive skyscrapers. The unusual
Section 4

The Economy
cone-shaped building is informally
called “The Gherkin” because of its
similarity to the Gherkin pickle.

of the United
Kingdom
As you read, look for
u the type of economy found in the United Kingdom;
u how the United Kingdom encourages economic
Economic Systems with British Ties
growth;
u the standard of living of the people in the United
Command Kingdom;Market
u terms: National Health Service (NHS),
British pound (£).

United United Canada Australia

The Economic System Today
States Kingdom
A society’s economic system is determined by the rules people and
Figure 5.3 governments use to make decisions about what to produce, how to
Economic Systems produce, and for whom to produce. The United Kingdom is considered
in Europe Economic Systems to
in be one of the freest market economies in the world. It is one of the
Europe
few countries in Europe that can boast
about its economy in the trillions each
year. Since the 1990s, the government
Command Market
and citizens have worked together to
find what works best for their country.
Citizens of the United Kingdom have
the freedom to choose where they can
Russia Germany United United
States Kingdom work, what they spend their money on,
and what property they own. There is
little government regulation to interfere with daily decisions for consum-
ers. The legal system of the United Kingdom enforces the rule of law and
guarantees the rules of economic contracts. It has a reputation for honest
and fair decisions.
Economic Systems in Latin America

Command Market

Cuba Brazil Mexico United

States

110
 Section 4: The Economy of the United Kingdom

Another important part of being economically free is the ability to be an

entrepreneur and start one’s own business. Laws in the United Kingdom
allow any individual to begin a business. For people who are creative,
innovative thinkers and who are willing to risk their natural, human, and
capital goods in hopes of earning a profit, the United Kingdom supports
entrepreneurship.

Trade
Import and export transactions in the United Kingdom are a large part
of the country’s $2.6 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Items such as
machine tools, railroad, ship, and aircraft equipment, motor vehicles and
parts, electronics, and communications equipment are manufactured in
the United Kingdom and provide many jobs for its citizens. These prod-
ucts are then exported all over the world, including to the UK’s largest
trading partners: the United States, Germany, and France. These products
are responsible for almost $470 billion of income for the United Kingdom,
and only about 18 percent of people in the United Kingdom work in labor
forces such as manufacturing. About 80 percent of the UK’s workforce is
in the service industry, such as banking services that are used worldwide.
Trade also involves products coming into the country. Imports are
purchased from other countries to supply what the United Kingdom
cannot make and provide for itself. Germany and the United States are
important sources of goods for the United Kingdom. The majority of UK
imports are food and fuels.
The United Kingdom is a leading trading power and a global financial
center. It has the third-largest economy in Europe after Germany and
France. Agriculture is thorough, highly mechanized, and efficient by Eu-
ropean standards, producing about 60 percent of their food needs using
less than 2 percent of the labor force. The United Kingdom has large coal,
natural gas, and oil resources, but its oil and natural gas reserves are de-
clining and the United Kingdom has been a large importer of energy since
2005. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services,
are key factors of British GDP growth. Manufacturing has declined in
importance but still accounts for about 10 percent of economic production.
100

74,989,914
Figure 5.4
75
Annual Passengers at
London’s Airports
Millions

50
40,271,343

25 22,519,178 Above: Air travelers line up at Passport

12,000,000
Control in London’s Heathrow Airport.
4,319,301 The British aviation hub is the busiest
0
900,648
in the European Union by passenger
Southend London City Luton Stansted Gatwick Heathrow traffic.

111
 Chapter 5: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Below: Britain’s National Health In 2008, the global financial crisis hit the economy particularly hard
Service provides free health care to all due to the importance of the UK banking system to the overall econo-
British citizens. A national tax pays for my. Falling home prices, high consumer debt, and the global economic
this service. slowdown made Britain’s economic problems even worse, pushing the
economy into recession. The government began several programs to
stimulate the economy and stabilize the financial markets.

Standard of Living
One definition of the standard of living can be described as the amount
of goods and services an average family views as necessary. As an educat-
ed and industrialized country, the United Kingdom has a good standard of
living. Education, health status, and social activities all rank above average
for European countries. The British are particularly proud of the health
care system. The National Health Service (NHS) was introduced after
World War II. The goal was to provide comprehensive and free health
Figure 5.5
care to all British citizens. The program is paid for by a national tax and
UKUnited
SpiderKingdom
Graph provides most of the medical treatments a person would ever need.
GDP per capita The Gross Domestic Product per capita of a country is the total value
100 of all the final goods and services produced in a country in one year
80 divided by the number of people in the country. The GDP per capita is
60 one way to determine the wealth of people in a country. The per capita
Taxes as 40 Literacy GDP of Great Britain is around $42,000. This is less than Germany (about
% of GDP 20 Rate
$46,000) and the United States ($53,000) per year. However, more than
0 33 million people have jobs in the United Kingdom. These workers earn
good wages to provide for themselves and their families. Citizens of the
United Kingdom are considered to have a standard of living that is very
high in the world.
% Labor Force Life
in Agriculture Expectancy Raising the per capita GDP of the country can mean a higher standard
of living for its people. To increase the per capita GDP, countries must
invest in education, training and skills, and the health of workers. Busi-
nesses must also invest in new technology, improve their factories, and
provide workers with the tools they need. Governments must invest in
the public infrastructure needed to get goods to international markets.
With the high percentage of people working outside the home, a higher
education is required to obtain and keep a job.

112
Section 4: The Economy of the United Kingdom

Currency
Even as a member of the European Union, the United Kingdom did
not choose to adopt the euro as currency. The currency of the United
Kingdom, the British pound (£), is one of the most stable in the world. It
has existed for about 1,000 years. The modern British pound has evolved
from pre-England times in which coins were divided into increments
that equaled one pound of silver. The ancient Roman monetary system
used a form of the pound that divided the 16 ounces of silver into coins
of 20 shillings or 240 silver pennies, each adding up to the approximate In 2016, the Bank of
weight of one pound. England began issuing
£5 notes made of thin,
The earliest minting (production of coins) of silver pennies was credited
flexible plastic. They are
to an Anglo-Saxon king in the late 8th century. Although the weights were expected to stay cleaner,
not always exact, the practice was still the same as in Roman times: 20 be harder to counterfeit,
shillings or 240 pennies were equal to one pound of currency. The coins and last 2.5 times longer
were then traded in markets and marked with royal symbols of the time than previous paper
period. In 1971, the British changed to a simpler decimal system—with banknotes. US bills are still
printed on paper, but that
one pound divided into 100 new pence.
material is made of cotton
The first paper money did not arrive until 1694 when the official Bank and linen, not wood pulp
of England was established. Each note was handwritten for its value. It is like regular paper.
hard to imagine a bank writing out what each bill is worth today!

Reviewing the Section

1. How has a market economy affected the UK
economy?
2. How has UK investment in capital goods affected
the economy?
3. How does the economy affect the standard of living
in the United Kingdom?
4. What goods make up a majority of goods traded
for export? For import? What countries are trading
partners with the UK?
5. Deeper Thinking: How have the economic freedoms
of citizens increased trade in the United Kingdom? Left: The United Kingdom kept its own
How has the investment in education, training, and currency instead of adopting the euro
capital goods affected the region? when it joined the European Union. The
British pound (£) is one of the most
stable currencies in the world.

113
 Chapter 5: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Section 5

US-United
Kingdom
Relations
As you read, look for
u evidence of a long friendship between the
United Kingdom and the United States;
u the amount of trade between the United Kingdom
and the United States;
u ways the United States and the United Kingdom
work together;
u terms: embassy, British-American Business Council of
Georgia.

The Long Friendship

The United States declared its independence from Great Britain in
1776. The American Revolutionary War ended in 1783 when Great Britain
recognized US independence. The two countries were at war again in
the War of 1812, but by 1815, peace was achieved and the two countries
began the process of becoming partners in world events.
Today, the United States has no closer ally than the United Kingdom,
In the War of 1812, and British foreign policy emphasizes close cooperation with the Unit-
British soldiers burned ed States. This cooperation reflects the common language, ideals, and
Washington, DC, including democratic practices of the two nations. Relations were strengthened by
the White House. the United Kingdom’s alliance with the United States during both world
wars and the Korean conflict.
Toward the end of the Cold War, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
and President Ronald Reagan became personal friends. Their partnership
was very strong in dealing with the Soviet Union and Soviet Premier
Mikhail Gorbachev. Their teamwork helped to end the Soviet Union and
the Cold War.

Right: The partnership between US

President Ronald Reagan and the first
female UK prime minister, Margaret
Thatcher, helped end the Cold War.

114
Section 5: US-United Kingdom Relations

Later, the two countries’ military forces partnered in the Persian Gulf
War, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and in Afghanistan. The United King-
dom and the United States continually cooperate to help solve problems
around the world.
The two countries work together as part of the United Nations (UN),
the UN Security Council, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization
(WTO), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Both countries are
a part of the G8, or Group of Eight. Leaders of the eight countries meet
each year to discuss economic growth, security, energy, and terrorism.
The United Kingdom has an embassy (the official residence and offices
of an ambassador) in Washington, DC, with an ambassador to represent
the United Kingdom in the United States.

Bilateral Economic Relations

The United Kingdom is a major international trading power. It is one
of the largest markets for US exports and one of the largest suppliers of
US imports, making the relationship between these two countries benefi-
cial and somewhat dependent on each other. Currency between the two
countries is easily traded. Americans have invested nearly $600 billion in
companies in the United Kingdom. Investors from the United Kingdom
have over $400 billion invested in US companies.
Groups such as the British-American Business Council of Georgia
promote trade between Georgia, the other states, and the United Kingdom.
There are over 300 UK companies in Georgia. The state exports over $1.6
billion to the United Kingdom including jet engines, aircraft, and electrical
machinery. Georgia imports over $2.1 billion in goods from the United
Kingdom, which include lift trucks, automobiles, and pharmaceutical,
optical, and medical equipment.
The United Kingdom is a large source of foreign tourists visiting the
United States. There are over 800 flights per week between the two coun-
tries that can seat more than 200,000 people. In total, about 4 million
Americans visit the United Kingdom each year, and the same number of
British people visit the United States.

Reviewing the Section

1. How does their trading relationship affect the
United Kingdom and the United States?
2. What examples are given to show that the United
States and the United Kingdom work together?
3. How is Georgia’s economy connected to that of the
United Kingdom?
Above: Logo of the British-American
Business Council of Georgia, which
helps businesses and individuals
connect, learn, and grow through a
thriving network of executives across
the United States and the United
Kingdom.

115
 Chapter Review
Chapter Summary Section 3: The Government of the
United Kingdom
Section 1: The Geography of the • The United Kingdom’s government includes the
United Kingdom monarch, prime minister, British and Scottish
• The United Kingdom (UK) consists of the Parliaments, and court systems.
countries of England, Scotland, Wales, • The British Parliament is bicameral and
and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is the composed of the House of Lords and House of
geographical name of the largest island. Commons.
• Because Great Britain is an island close to • The House of Commons, unlike the House
mainland Europe, it has many ports for of Lords, is made up of elected members
shipping in Europe and across the Atlantic to who serve five-year terms and have the most
the United States. parliamentary power.
• The United Kingdom has mild weather and • The United Kingdom is a constitutional
arable land, which has encouraged a pastoral monarchy where the monarch is the head of
lifestyle. In recent history, the population has state with limited power and the prime minister
clustered in urban areas where there are more is the head of government.
jobs.
• The United Kingdom has many natural
Section 4: The Economy of the
resources including coal, petroleum, and iron. United Kingdom
These helped fuel the Industrial Revolution that • The United Kingdom has one of the largest
provided many mining and manufacturing jobs. economies in Europe and offers its citizens
• Because it has burned fossil fuels for an freedom to produce, consume, and become
extended time, the United Kingdom has had entrepreneurs as they please.
severe problems with air quality. It now works • As an international hub, the United Kingdom
on clean energy solutions, especially in London. relies on frequent and plentiful trade to export
their goods and provide service jobs especially
Section 2: A Brief History of the in banking, insurance, and business services.
United Kingdom • The standard of living is very high for citizens.
• King James VI of Scotland first united Scotland, They have access to the National Health Service
England, and Wales in 1603. The current United (NHS), high paying jobs, and efficient public
Kingdom of Great Britain and (Northern) infrastructure.
Ireland was officially formed in 1801. • The British pound is one of the most stable and
• The British Empire colonized enormous valuable currencies in the world. The United
territories including North America, Australia, Kingdom kept its own currency when it joined
and India. By 1920, it had colonies around the the European Union.
globe.
• After World War II, many of the colonies were
Section 5: US-United Kingdom
granted independence and joined together to Relations
become the British Commonwealth of Nations. • Although the United States and United Kingdom
• Recently the United Kingdom has appeared less began as enemies, the two countries are now
unified internally with Scotland, Wales, and close allies and trading partners.
Northern Ireland rallying for independence and
with the contentious Brexit campaign in 2016.

116
Chapter 5: Review

• In recent history, the leaders of both countries Developing Critical Thinking
have worked together through two world
1. After being dissolved in 1707, the Scottish
wars and the Cold War, and as partners in
Parliament met again in 1999. Why do you
international groups such as the United Nations.
think it is important to the Scottish people
• The two economies rely on each other to sell to have their own parliament? How well are
their exports. Frequent tourism between the Scottish people represented in the British
countries boosts the service industries and Parliament’s House of Commons?
encourages more trade.
2. The United Kingdom relies heavily on foreign
trade and banking to keep its high GDP and
Activities for Learning standard of living. How might Brexit affect
trading relationships with European countries
and the United States?
Reviewing People, Places,
and Things Writing across the Curriculum
Imagine you are a journalist. Using your knowledge
Write a short report describing how important you
of the United Kingdom, write a realistic headline for
think the House of Lords is to the United Kingdom’s
each of the words below.
government. Be sure to include examples to support
United Kingdom your opinions.
Gulf Stream
Brexit Applying Your Skills
smog Create a timeline with at least five historical events
monarch important to understanding the United Kingdom
prime minister today.
British pound
Exploring Technology
British Commonwealth of Nations
Go to https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/environment/
Understanding the Facts air-quality-consultation-phase-2/?cid=airquality-
consultation. Read about why it is still important
1. The United Kingdom is composed of what four
to improve the air quality in London and what is
countries?
being done to fix it. Based on your knowledge of
2. Why does the United Kingdom have such mild the United Kingdom, what current tactics do you
weather for its latitude? think are working the best to improve air quality?
3. What is smog?
4. Who was the first monarch of both Scotland
and England?
5. What is the British Commonwealth of Nations?
6. Which house of the British Parliament has
members who are elected?
7. Which countries are the United Kingdom’s
largest trading partners?
8. As natural resources decrease, what sector of
jobs is replacing jobs in manufacturing?

117