Summary: The United Kingdom [PDF]

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CHAPTER 14, LESSON 1

Summary: The United Kingdom A Kingdom of Four Political Regions The United Kingdom is made up of four regions: Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The government is a constitutional monarchy. Today, the British king or queen is only a symbol of power. Parliament has the actual power to govern. The British Parliament is made up of two parts. The House of Lords are nobles. The House of Commons are representatives. They are elected by the citizens. The House of Commons is the more powerful of the two. The prime minister is the head of government. He or she belongs to the political party that has the most seats in the House of Commons. The job of the other parties is to question government rules and laws. Northern Ireland has long been an area of struggle. Irish Catholic nationalists and Irish Protestants often have conflicts. Many Irish Catholics wanted Northern Ireland to secede. They did not want to be part of the United Kingdom. They wanted Northern Ireland to join with the Republic of Ireland. Irish Protestants supported the United Kingdom government.

Cultural Heritage The United Kingdom has controlled other countries and territories for a long time. It has been exporting its culture around the world for hundreds of years. For example, the United States government was modeled on Britain’s parliamentary system. British culture has set trends in areas such as sports, music, and literature. The Beatles, Elton John, and Dido are just a few examples of British musicians. British author Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol. J.K. Rowling is well known for her Harry Potter books. Trade and finance are important to the United Kingdom. They are necessary for a good economy. Many citizens work in mining and manufacturing. Factories make many kinds of products, from china to sports cars. The United Kingdom has few natural resources. It does have enough coal, natural gas, and oil to run its factories. To produce goods, the United Kingdom must import raw materials. It also imports some foods. Resources for Reaching All Learners Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Find and circle the vocabulary word.

secede verb, to withdraw from a nation

REVIEW Who is the head of government in the United Kingdom? Underline the head of government in the United Kingdom. REVIEW Why was the United Kingdom able to spread British culture across the world? Highlight the reason why the United Kingdom was able to spread British culture across the world.