Intro to the United Kingdom of Great Britain

What do you know about Great Britain?

Where is it located?
Look at the map of Europe in your foldable. Try to label the names of the numbered countries.

How did it get its name?

Up until the seventeenth century there had been four 'countries' in the British Isles: England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland
Each one had its own identity, history, and language. There was no such word as British. People were simply either English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish.

 By the end of the eighteenth century The word British was used for the first time

1543
England and Wales were united as one
country. Scotland and Ireland remained separate kingdoms,
own parliaments and laws

1603
England and Scotland
same king King James VI of Scotland became also James I of England

1606 Scots were officially called English citizens Not official until 1652, when the two countries were
united together through force by Oliver Cromwell. The Scots had never accepted this action.

1707
Act of Union
Scotland lost her Parliament and her independence became part of a new country to be called 'Kingdom of Great Britain'

1801
second Act of Union
created yet another new country 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Interesting Fact English/British monarchs had been also monarchs of Ireland since Henry Vlll claimed regal sovereignty in 1542.

1921
Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921
removed mainland Ireland from the UK. Six northern Irish counties (Northern Ireland) remained part of the UK

Great Britain
The current
name of the country, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in 1927.

What is its current form of government?

Constitutional Monarchy
elected or hereditary monarch acts as
Head of State monarch's power is limited and shared with other parts of the government Queen Elizabeth II acts as Head of State while an elected Parliament holds the power to make and pass laws

British Parliamentary system

Parliament is the supreme legislative body of the government with the power to make and pass laws. It is bicameral, with an upper house (the House of Lords who are generally appointed) and a lower house (the House of Commons who are publicly elected). The Prime Minister and Cabinet hold the executive power in the government and make the decisions about how the government is run. The Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers are also elected members of Parliament. The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet, usually from his or her own party. As Head of State, the Sovereign (Queen Elizabeth) is considered the official head of the government. She retains an important (although symbolic) political role in the country, formally appointing prime ministers, approving certain legislation and bestowing honors.

Who is in the Royal Family?

http://www.pbs.org/opb/monarchy/educators.html

The power of the monarch in the modern

British system is mostly symbolic and ceremonial, summed up by the saying, "the Queen reigns but she does not rule."

Born July 1, 1961 Died August 31, 1997

April 29th

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsxjM03ME7s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3JvAe5fqt4&feature=related

Golden Globe and Oscar Connection

What are famous landmarks in Great Britain?

Double-decker buses and London Bridge

Thames (temz) River

Tower of London

English Countryside

Stonehenge

Cliffs of Dover

There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover Tomorrow, just you wait and see There'll be love and laughter and peace ever after Tomorrow when the world is free The shepherd will tend his sheep The valley will bloom again And Jimmy will go to sleep In his own little room again There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover Tomorrow, just you wait and see The shepherd will tend his sheep The valley will bloom again And Jimmy will go to sleep In his own little room again There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover Tomorrow, just you waitand see!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= fkZLkF_eJoo

Palace of Westminster and House of Parliament

English villages

Buckingham Palace

The London Eye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVg2XVeUIFM

Windsor Castle

More castles

The British Baronage

The King and Queen Prince and Princess Duke and Duchess Marquess and Marchioness Earl and Countess Viscount and Viscountess Baron and Baroness Baronet and Lady Knight and Dame

Now, lets have fun with British Baronage . . .