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The British Isles
Ch. 6
Sec. 1
Pp. 174-177
The United Kingdom
• British Isles – United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland
• UK – England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
• 1999 – Scotland and Wales set up legislatures to run local affairs
British Economy
• Industrial revolution started here about 250 years ago
• Manufactured goods, machinery, banking, insurance, communications
• Import 1/3 of food, because efficient farming, but not enough land and large population
British Government
• Parliamentary democracy – voters elect representatives
• 2 branches – House of Lords, House of Commons
• Constitutional monarchy – king and queen are official heads of state, but have little real power
British People and Culture
• 60 million live in UK• Speak English, but
Welsh and Scottish Gaelic also spoken
• Most are Protestants• 90 % live in cities• 7 million live in
London, one of Europe’s most populated cities
Republic of Ireland
• Emerald Isle – wide, rolling plains, green meadows, tree-covered hills
• Peat – plants partly decayed in water which can be dried and used for fuel
• Bogs – low, swampy areas
Irish Economy
• Potatoes, barley, wheat, sugar beets, and turnips
• Sheep, beef and dairy cattle
• Food processing, beverages, textiles, pharmaceuticals
Northern Ireland Conflict
• Ireland became independent in 1921, but Britain still occupies Northern Ireland
• Nationalists (mostly Catholic) want reunification, Loyalists (mostly Protestant) want to remain under British rule
• Fighting between them called “the Troubles”
• 1998 – peace agreement
Irish People
• Celts settled Ireland around 500 B.C.
• Gaelic and Irish are the official languages
• 58% live in cities and towns
• 1/3 live in and around Dublin, the capital