| The
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is
a highly developed constitutional monarchy comprised of
Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern
Ireland.
The
United Kingdom's population in 2004 surpassed 60 million--the
third-largest in the European Union and the 21st-largest
in the world. Its overall population density is one
of the highest in the world. Almost one-third of the
population lives in England's prosperous and fertile
southeast and is predominantly urban and suburban--with
about 7.2 million in the capital of London, which remains
the largest city in Europe. The United Kingdom's high
literacy rate (99%) is attributable to universal public
education introduced for the primary level in 1870 and
secondary level in 1900. Education is mandatory from
ages 5 through 16. About one-fifth of British students
go on to post-secondary education. The Church of England
and the Church of Scotland are the official churches
in their respective parts of the country, but most religions
found in the world are represented in the United Kingdom.
The
United Kingdom has the fourth-largest economy in the
world, is the second-largest economy in the European
Union, and is a major international trading power. A
highly developed, diversified, market-based economy
with extensive social welfare services provides most
residents with a high standard of living. London ranks
with New York as a leading international financial center.
Since
1979, the British Government has privatized most state-owned
companies, including British Steel, British Airways,
British Telecom, British Coal, British Aerospace, and
British Gas, although in some cases the government retains
a "golden share" in these companies. The Labour
government has continued the privatization policy of
its predecessor, including by encouraging "public-private
partnerships" (partial privatization) in such areas
as the National Air Traffic Control System.
The
United Kingdom is the European Union’s only significant
energy exporter. It is also one of the world’s largest
energy consumers, and most analysts predict a shift
in U.K. status from net exporter to net importer of
energy by 2020, possibly sooner. Oil production in the
U.K. is leveling off. While North Sea natural gas production
continues to rise, gains may be offset by ever-increasing
consumption. North Sea oil and gas exploration activities
are shifting to smaller fields and to increments of
larger, developed fields, presenting opportunities for
smaller, independent energy operators to become active
in North Sea production.
Both
Wales and Scotland were independent kingdoms that resisted
English rule. The English conquest of Wales succeeded
in 1282 under Edward I, and the Statute of Rhuddlan
established English rule 2 years later. To appease the
Welsh, Edward's son (later Edward II), who had been
born in Wales, was made Prince of Wales in 1301. The
tradition of bestowing this title on the eldest son
of the British Monarch continues today. An act of 1536
completed the political and administrative union of
England and Wales.
While
maintaining separate parliaments, England and Scotland
were ruled under one crown beginning in 1603, when James
VI of Scotland succeeded his cousin Elizabeth I as James
I of England. In the ensuing 100 years, strong religious
and political differences divided the kingdoms. Finally,
in 1707, England and Scotland were unified as Great
Britain, sharing a single Parliament at Westminster.
Ireland's
invasion by the Anglo-Normans in 1170 led to centuries
of strife. Successive English kings sought to conquer
Ireland. In the early 17th century, large-scale settlement
of the north from Scotland and England began. After
its defeat, Ireland was subjected, with varying degrees
of success, to control and regulation by Britain.
The
legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland was completed
on January 1, 1801, under the name of the United Kingdom.
However, armed struggle for independence continued sporadically
into the 20th century. The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921
established the Irish Free State, which subsequently
left the Commonwealth and became a republic after World
War II. Six northern, predominantly Protestant, Irish
counties have remained part of the United Kingdom.
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