Connaissance du pays : The United Kingdom

Anglais : 

Connaissance du pays : The United Kingdom

              British Isles ? National and international borders ?

• British Isles :

It’s a geographical term including 2 large islands : Great Britain +Ireland+5000 islands around.

• The Celtic Fringe :

Areas not affected or less affected by Roman invasion : Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall.

Language : english, but there are many types of english (irish, scottish, cornish, breton,welsh).

1607 : On wards followed by act of union.    

1707 : Act of union between Scotland and England

1800 : Island of Ireland colonized.

Union state : common political identity

        Overrinding national interest superseded territorial

        More powerful country

        1 parliament

Even if they’re differents territories and differents cultural identities

• The U.K :

U.K= G.B+ Nothern Ireland

G.B= England+ Scotland+ Wales[pic 1]

4 nations :   English

                   Scottish        1 British Passport

        Welsh

        Nothern Irish

[pic 2]

Republic of Ireland        Irish Passport

Citizens of Nothern Ireland on request

• England

53 millions                                                   [pic 3]

London

St George’s day : 23rd april            

Emblem : rose

Church of England

• Scotland :  

 [pic 4]                                           

5.25 millions

Edinburgh

St Andrew’s day : 30 nov.

Emblem : thistle

Separate legal and educational system => not a centralize state like France

                             a lot of autonomy

National press

Protestants and presbitarian churchs

• Wales :

[pic 5]

3.1 million

Cardiff

St David’s day : 1st march

Emblem : daffodil or leak

Same educ. & legal system in England

• Nothern Ireland :

[pic 6]

1.8 million

Belfast

≠ flags

Emblem : shamrock

St Patrick’s day :17 march

They feel Irish not English, they’ve their falgs

• The Union Jack :

Superposition of 4 historical flags :

[pic 7]

British terms .. :

Someone comin’ from Britain is a british the person is a briton

        England        english        englishman /woman

                                  Scotland         scottish        scottishman/woman

        Wales        welsh        welshman/woman

                   Nothern ireland         nothern irish        nothern irishman/woman

• Other historical or linguistic terms :

Britain : Britannia, Albion

Scotland : Caledonia, Alba

Iireland : Eeire, Erin, Hibernia

Nothern Ireland : Ulster

England : Blighty (old litterary word)

Dominant center-england :

Population (2010) : England

        Wales

        Scotland

        Nothern Ireland

• Eco power
• Proximity to continental power
• London : home of Westminister (parliament) commercial ceenter

• Maintaining the union :

Scotland, Wales, N.I : good economy

Devolution 1998 :

Self government : transfert of power from the Westminister

New labour government : may 97 Tony Blair became Prime Minister

More power to countries (S,W,W.I : more powerful) helth, educ., transport

Westminister retains power of : taxation, immigration, socila security, foreign affairs (army, currency) since 1998.

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