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Line 1: − The nationality of those who are from [[Great Britain]].+ − They were so sure that they knew the best way to live that at one point up to a quarter of the World's population suffered under their rule. Gradually though, Her Majesty's Government was forced to give up her colonies, starting with the North American colonies and most recently Hong Kong.+ − + + + + +
fleshed out article, removed historical innacurracy
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'''British''' refers to a person being a citizen of the [[United Kingdom]]. It is not usually used as an expression of nationality by British citizens, as many will prefer to use the expressions "English", "Scottish", or "Welsh", referring to which constituent country of the UK they self-identify with. An exception to this is its use in [[Northern Ireland]] by [[Unionist|Unionists]] to show their support for the continued inclusion of Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom.
Historically, "British" was also the name given to the largest empire the world has ever seen, administered in the United Kingdom in the name of the British monarch. British colonies were established all over the world, covering roughly a quarter of the world's land surface area in 1921, even after losing much of its North American territory after the [[American Revolutionary War]]. The large empire was possible because Britain "ruled the seas" through the stong domination of the [[Royal Navy]], and used this to ensure free trading for British interests. With up to a quarter of the world as British subjects, the Empire was also the world's foremost military power. For many centuries, populations lived under a period of relative peace and prosperity that was the ''Pax Brittannica'', though from a modern perspective, the methods used to control and ensure this superiority on occasion were on occasion particularly vicious.
Recently, Australia voted to retain the British Head of State as their own Head of State.
Sadly, the empire no longer exists, though its legacy can still be appreciated today, be it through the popularity of traditional British sports such as soccer, cricket, rugby and golf; or from the status of [[English]] as the current global [[lingua franca]]; or from the use of the [[Westminster system]] of government and English common law around the world.
The Empire's successor is the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], which still features the British monarch [[Queen Elizabeth II]] as the [[Head of the Commonwealth]]. The commonwealth consists of the UK, [[Commonwealth Realms]] which still have the British monarch as Head of State, and republics.
Recently, Australians voted in a referendum to retain the British monarch as their Head of State, rather than declare Australia a republic.