Changes

Today the term “Great Britain” means England, Scotland and Wales, which share the same large island (see right).  It is “Great" to distinguish it from France's Brittania Minor (more simply, “Brittany”).  

Today the term “Great Britain” means England, Scotland and Wales, which share the same large island (see right).  It is “Great" to distinguish it from France's Brittania Minor (more simply, “Brittany”).  

The term “United Kingdom” refers to the combination (union) of “Great Britain” and “Northern Ireland,” which is part of the island of Ireland.  There is violent conflict to this day between Protestants and Catholics as to whether Northern Ireland should be part of the separate nation of the (Catholic) Ireland (they share the same island) or Great Britain. The (Protestant) United Kingdom formed in response to the movement towards independence by (Catholic) Ireland.

The term “United Kingdom” refers to the combination (union) of “Great Britain” and “Northern Ireland,” which is part of the island of Ireland.  There is conflict to this day between Unionists, who are mostly Protestant, and Nationalists, who are mostly Catholic, as to whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom on the one hand or be united with the Republic of Ireland (Northern Ireland and the Republic share the same island) on the other. This dispute still very occasionally spills over into violence.

 

The United Kingdom was formed in 1800 in response to the movement towards independence by Ireland. Although Ireland had a large majority of Catholics at the time and the other countries of the UK had even larger Protestant majorities, many leaders of the early Irish independence movement, notably [[Wolfe Tone]], were Protestant. Catholicism in Ireland became strongly aligned with Republicanism over a century later, with the formation of the [[Fianna Fail]] party by [[Eamon de Valera]] after the [[Irish Civil War|Civil War]] in the 1920s. ([[Erskine Childers]] and [[Sir Roger Casement]] were among the notable Protestants who supported the [[Easter Rising]] in 1916.)

Within Great Britain, the people of Scotland and Wales take offense at being called "English".  The Scottish, for example, pride themselves at being different to the English.

Within Great Britain, the people of Scotland and Wales take offense at being called "English".  The Scottish, for example, pride themselves at being different to the English.