If Great Britain is considered a country, then what are England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland?

Answer 1

Great Britain is the largest island in Europe. The term "Great Britain" is the collective name for the three countries of England, Scotland and Wales. It also includes the small adjacent islands but it does not include the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

The United Kingdom is made up of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The official name "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" came into use in 1922 after the constitution of the Irish Free State (1922-1937), the former name of the Republic of Ireland.

When speaking of the United Kingdom and its constituent parts it is important to use the correct terminology. In 1969 the Royal Commission on the Constitution was set up with the aim of examining the relation between central legislature and government on one hand and the "several countries, nations and regions of the United Kingdom" on the other. The United Kingdom of Great Britain, used to indicate the political union of England, Scotland and Wales, was expanded, in the 20th century, to include Northern Ireland: the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" as it now appears on passports.

Notes:

The adjective "British" is, of course, used in relation to Great Britain but there is also a common tendency to use it when referring to issues relating to both Great Britain and the United Kingdom. This is inaccurate and from a legal point of view erroneous. Sometimes, however, in legislation the term "British" is used to refer to the United Kingdom as a whole, especially in matters relating to the question of nationality.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

England, Wales and Scotland are countries of the island Great Britain.

Answer 3

Great Birtain is not a country, it is an island. In this island, Wales, England and Scotland are located. Those three are viewed as countries. If you add Northern Ireland, located in the island of Ireland, you get the United Kingdom of Great Britain and northern Ireland.

Answer 4

Britain is an island, the United Kingdom is a nation composed of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. I don't know how the British refer to these places: provinces, commonwealths?

Answer 5

England,Scotland,Ireland and Wales are individual countries united together forming Great Britain,The British Isles or The United Kingdom all ruled under one Queen.

Answer 6

great britain is the island containing england, scotland and wales. it is called great britain to distinguish it from britain, the brittany region of france. ireland is a seperate island, divided into the republic of ireland, roughly in the south, and northern ireland, roughly in the north. england, scotland, wales and northern ireland make up the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, uk for short. great britain is not a country at all, it's just a placename. the political entity is the uk, a state engulfing the three countries of england, scotland and wales and part of the country of ireland. really the idea of the uk goes back to an older time and idea of statehood, the idea that the political entity of state and the ethnic/ cultural entity of country don't have to go together. today of course most states in the developed world have borders that more or less straddle their cultural borders too but for the uk that doesn't apply.

Answer 7

I think SF CA got this right, but for further clarification... (since no one else seems to get it)

The United Kingdom is the name of the Country.

Great Britain is the island, on which most of England, Scottland, and Wales are contained (not Ireland). I'm not sure what you would call them, perhaps common wealths... they are a little like states or provinces.

Next to the Island of Great Britain is the island of Ireland. On this island there is Northern Ireland (another commonwealth of the UK). And the independant country of Ireland.

So once more, The United Kingdom consists of the common wealths of England, Wales and Scottland, all on the island of Great Brittain, as well as the commonwealth of Northern Ireland on the island of Ireland.

Answer 8

Great Britain is not a country, it is actually an island off the western coast of Europe; it is composed of countries: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Ireland is also an island, but the northern part is still claimed by England.

Answer 9

Great Britan is not a country, its an island. England, Wales, Scotlan and Southern Ireland are countries in the island of Great Britain.
Great Britain did use to be a country though and thats maybe what you read.

Answer 10

Great Britain is all of the above.

Its like the states. All inside on country.