United Kingdom (UK) A country in NW Europe consisting of ENGLAND, WALES, and SCOTLAND, and the province of NORTHERN IRELAND. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are British Crown dependencies but are not an integral part of the United Kingdom.

Physical

The United Kingdom consists of Great Britain, a large island off Europe's north-west coast containing England, Scotland, and Wales, and the north-east corner of the neighbouring island of Ireland. Of its mountains, which lie in the north and west, few are higher than 1000 m (3300 feet), while of its rivers none is longer than the Severn at 354 km (220 miles). The south of the country has hills of chalk and flint or limestone rising to 300 m (less than 1000 feet). Here the valleys are broad, with sandy soil or clay supporting oak, ash, beech, and chestnut trees. In the east, which is lower and flatter, river gravels and alluvium from the North Sea have produced dark, rich soils. Its principal river, the Thames, flows into the North Sea.

Economy

The United Kingdom has a heavily industrialized economy with substantial, though declining, offshore oil production. Britain is one of the world's largest steel producers, but its wide range of manufacturing industry has declined in recent decades. There is a growing service sector and high-technology industries are being developed. London is a finance and banking centre. The state sector shrank considerably during the 1980s and 1990s owing to policies of privatization. Coal is mined for domestic consumption and electricity generation. Agricultural productivity has been boosted by mechanization and intensive farming methods.

History

WALES was incorporated into England in the reign of HENRY VIII. In 1604 JAMES I was proclaimed ‘King of Great Britain’, but although his accession to the English throne (1603) had joined the two crowns of ENGLAND and SCOTLAND the countries were not formally united. In the aftermath of the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell effected a temporary union between England and Scotland, but it did not survive the RESTORATION. The countries were joined by the Act of UNION (1707) which left unchanged the Scottish judicial system and the Presbyterian church. IRELAND was incorporated into the United Kingdom in 1800 but became independent (except for Northern Ireland) in 1921.

Britain was the first country in Europe to become fully industrialized, developing a predominantly urban, rather than a rural, society by the mid-19th century. A series of parliamentary reform acts, beginning with the REFORM ACT of 1832, steadily increased the power of the HOUSE OF COMMONS compared to that of the monarch and the HOUSE OF LORDS. Under Queen VICTORIA, colonial expansion of the BRITISH EMPIRE reached its height. However, growing pressure for independence from peoples within the empire meant that during the 20th century British dominions and colonies gradually gained independence; most of them elected to join the COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS, established in 1931. During WORLD WAR I and WORLD WAR II Britain fought against Germany and its allies, emerging from both conflicts on the victorious side. A period of austerity, which began to ease in the 1950s, followed World War II. Since 1967 gas and oil from offshore wells have been commercially produced, creating a major impact on the nation's economy. In 1973 Britain became a member of the European Economic Community, subsequently the EUROPEAN UNION. In 1982 Britain fought the FALKLANDS WAR with Argentina and in 1991 sent troops to support the US-led coalition in the GULF WAR.

The main political parties in Britain are the CONSERVATIVE PARTY, the LABOUR PARTY, and the Liberal Democrats (see LIBERAL PARTY). The Liberals have not been in power since the resignation of LLOYD GEORGE in 1922. During World War II a coalition government under Winston CHURCHILL was formed. The postwar Labour ATTLEE ministries saw the introduction of the National Health Service and the WELFARE STATE, largely on the lines of the BEVERIDGE Report. Labour governments have traditionally been supported by TRADE UNIONS and legislated to nationalize service industries. Subsequent Conservative governments, notably those of Margaret THATCHER and John MAJOR, reversed the procedure by privatizing many publicly owned companies; they also passed laws to restrict the power of the trade unions and restricted public spending. The Labour Party led by Tony BLAIR won the general election of 1997 and formed a new government.

Progress has been made towards resolving the problem of Northern Ireland, which has seen recurrent conflict between Catholic supporters of a united Ireland and Protestant supporters of union with Britain. Peace talks involving all the main Northern Irish political parties began in 1996 and concluded in 1998 with the signing of a peace agreement by the British and Irish governments and the leaders of most of the Northern Irish parties. Implementation has, however, proved problematic. A separate Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly, with limited powers, were established in 1999.