Why do a lot of Americans call the UK, 'England'?

Question

Let me educate you.

1. The United Kingdom consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
2. Great Britain consists of England, Wales and Scotland. Hence, sometimes you hear "Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
3. The British Isles is a geographical term which refers to 'all of the United Kingdom' (and its islands) and all of the island of Ireland (i.e. Ulster and Eire) and the Channel Isles.

Answer 1

I am one of those americans. Thanks for the education. I meant no offense. We americans need to stay friends with the UK, Australia, and Israel, our 3 most loyal allies.

Answer 2

Well I would say the most Americans (citizens of the United States) probably realize that the UK is composed of more than just England....but England has the Queen and the Prime Minister and is certainly the dominant part of the UK...very rarely is it necessary to distinguish between them all... For the longest time I just thought Wales was a province of England... and by the way the "Prince of Wales" is English.... right?

the term English or England comes from the Angles who were the inhabitants of Angleland...which of course became England... So chances are unless you decended from the Celts or the Normans (who were French) chances are you're English.

So is ok to call you all British? or is that too much lumping together also?

Answer 3

Americans are an ignorant lot, by and large, and content to be so. But let me educate you.

1. Great Britain is a bunch of islands across the ocean, where they make bad food, ok beer, and strange TV except for Monty Python. Synonymous with England.

2. The U.K. is a bunch of island etc. Also synonymous with England, but used commonly only by professional wrestling fans who are accustomed to using the letter 'U' in conversation.

3. The British Isles is a geographical term, which is why most Americans don't and will never bother with it, as it has no impact whatsoever on our preconceptions of your national character, history, and ability to kick butt. See also 'Jap' and 'terrorist'.

Hope this helps! :)

Answer 4

What about the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man?

Oh, and Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.

Answer 5

I appreciate you clearing that up, I've always had a little confusion about the various names. I have another question for you, England has a national flag (white with red cross). The Union Jack flag, does that represent England & Scotland only?

Answer 6

I am English and I say I am from England, not the UK.
If someone is from Scotland don't they say they are scottish rather than from UK? So surely Americans just think England is England and the others are their own little thing as well, or maybe they don't care. Do you call America, America or the USA?

Answer 7

You answered it in your question.

Americans come to visit England. They may also visit Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Answer 8

Well, we know that. But not everybody in the USA or in Ruritania does. And the French, neighbours to the East often -- perhaps most of the time -- say "les Anglais" when they mean ... United-Kingdomites. Or whatever they mean.

Because a British Embassy isn't British and a British Citizen isn't necessarily British either.

Answer 9

Because England is part of the UK, when you talk about America you dont refer to it as Texas do you?? Well, England is a part, the same as Texas is part of a country..maybe England is the only place they went to, maybe they are just talking about England!!
I'm English, was born and raised in a pub and I talk about England and English things as i cant refer to other parts of the UK as I never lived there, visited, but never lived there.
And lets face it, England to the English is there best part of the country, as every part of every country is to teh person who lives there.Home is where your heart is! :)

Answer 10

Like you the are ignorant !!! So let me educate you ......
America is a continent consisting of a number of other countries.
In North America you have the USA and Canada and like many ignorant people you refer to those persons born in the United States of America being American !!!

Answer 11

many years ago when England ruled the u.k .
they invaded other country's under the English name not the British name .
so when they did loose there empire and got booted out of other peoples country's .they went down in history as being English not British