Do all Americans think that they're is only England in Britain or is it just a few?

Question

I dont want to offend any Americans by saying this but do Americans realise that Britain consists of 4 countries not just the 1? even Bush asked Charlotte Church which state Wales is in!!

Is the guy that answerd first one of those ignorant Americans?

Do they even realise that the other three countries have theyre own languages...Galic....Welsh???

For bedeboop: http://www.breakingnews.ie/2005/06/03/story205589.html sight where Charlotte describes what she thincks of Bush!!

Answer 1

Who cares that country is stupid.

Answer 2

I have spent a lot of time in America and yes, All Americans, with the very rare exception think that England is Britain & Vice Versa

A huge percentage also think that the whole of Europe is Britain

The general impression seems to be that Europe is the country (like the USA) and that England/Britain is a state

The amount of people when I am over there that ask me on learning that I am from England if I live near the Eiffel Tower, or near where the berlin wall used to be etc

Also, a lot of British people dont realise that Northern Ireland is part of Britain so I would never expect Americans to, lol!

Answer 3

The Act of Union 1800 merged the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself a merger of England and Wales and Scotland under the Act of Union 1707) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801.

This fact is probably not known by a lot of British people. No wonder Americans don't get it.

Answer 4

It's because they don't learn Geography, many people in America can't find their own state on a map, let alone another country.
There are a lot that don't even realise that there are other countries either, but you do get the odd one or two intelligent ones.

Haha smartlittlebabe said it and Platinum Pawz had the courtesy to prove it, isn't that nice of her :D I love it when people prove a point.

bedeboop no sources are needed, this is Bush she's talking about and I heard it straight from Charlotte's mouth, if you don't watch telly you wouldn't know though, she isn't generalising, she's asking if all are like that not stating all are like that.

Reuben I thought it was 52 states, or don't Hawaii and Alaska count?

Answer 5

We usually hear Great Britain spoken of as England. I use to work for a company that imported items from Wales, Scotland, & Ireland. I wasn't concuss of them being different countries just different areas of Great Britain.

Well I guess I shouldn't be surprised, most in the US say we are Americans. Anyone in the western hemisphere is an American. Tthe USA is only a small section. Me, I'm a US Citizen which I acknowledge am very luck to be.

Answer 6

Yes, there are American who realize this and posting a question such as this is generalizing.

Maybe I should ask, why do all british people cook so terribly? (A common thought by many, and not just americans, generalizes just the same). Sorry, tired of all posts which appear to be ignorant, not just to americans, but all posts by anyone about anyone in which the person posing the question hasn't an original thought in their head and can only think of questions that they feel makes them look superior, or their neighborhood, city, town, state, country, etc.... Sad way to get your kicks. Also, please cite info regarding Bush and asking about Wales. I would like to see that out of curiosity.

Answer 7

Americans don't KNOW where England is located, let alone if it's in Britain or not... most Americans even say that England is IN Europe... when any Brit will tell you that England is NOT in Europe.

You have to remember, most young Americans are so poorly educated in Geography that they can't find the STATE they live in on a map of the U.S... how would you expect them to know where some small country is located?

Answer 8

Most Americans are not very skilled in Geography, it's true.

I am a geography major and I can also say that the British have trouble understanding how our Federal system works (and again most of us make no attempt to understand your government, and it took me a while to understand even the basics)

But remember that when you watch TV you get stuff from America, most Americans think that England / Britain / UK is the place that we split off from when people wore belt buckles on their hats and then the spice girls came here after we signal Handel saved them in two world wars. And it is all thanks to public education and teachers unions. Most people would say that we learn too much about Europe anyway and we should study Asia, Africa, or where ever that persons heritage started from.

Answer 9

Yes, most Americans are aware of this. Since, on an international scale, they are represented as Britain then that is the way Americans view it.

And, no, I cannot explain the ignorance of some Americans.

Can you name the 50 states that make up the United States and tell me where they are?

Answer 10

Well, I never knew what Britain was persay. Mainly because I usually just hear it being called the UK. Britain itself to me is Great Britain, referring to part of the UK. So, I only call it the UK, which i'm aware is made up of more than just England. Even websites state that "Britain is also widely, though *incorrectly*, used as a synonym for the sovereign state properly known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." So, it confuses me sometimes when people are talking about Britain in reference to the UK.

Answer 11

Unfortunately, most Americans are blissfully ignorant and arrogant. I'd say most are completely clueless. Bush has shown his obliviousness many a time.

England, Scotland, Wales & N. Ireland right?

sorry dude, loved your country when I was there in 04. people there are SOOOO much more open and rational. Sometimes I feel like I'm surrounded by arrogant bigots that dont care about anyone but themselves. but i assure you there are some intelligent people here. Its just tuff when you're surrounded by idiots... sorry yall love ya but you know its true. some of us dont even know how many states we have. lol! (50 btw) for you americans who don't believe me...ever watched street smarts? or jerry springer? or the O'Riley Factor? there are a lot of really dumb americans out there.