The Difference between the UK, Great Britain & England Explained | AMERICAN REACTION

Thank you for watching me, a humble American, react to The Difference between the UK, Great Britain & England Explained. This was embarrassing for me because I should have probably known this better. I hope that made for some entertainment. Thanks for subscribing!

[dale]

"Britain got around" understatement of the century.

[jackcarter]

As for our 4 nations not liking each other, it's just friendly banter, or at worst, sibling rivalry.

[mrjw]

I’m a proud Welshman but also very proud to be British. When I travel around the world I regard myself as both.

[nicksykes]

The reason you've never heard of Akrotiri and Dhekelia is, they're two areas of the island of Cyprus.

[PolarBear]

To make things more complicated what he listed as the Commonwealth were the Commonwealth Realms. There's also the Commonwealth of Nations which has 56 countries and includes countries which were former colonies and have no involvement at all with the Queen. These include a bunch of countries in Africa including South Africa (which was kicked out and then invited back in) as well as India (and a few other countries in Asia). They all get together every few years for the Commonwealth Games (I think it's just finished but it may still be on!) which is like a mini Olympics just for Commonwealth members.

[SpiritmanProductions]

"Britain got around." — Understatement of the -century- modern era!

[krt]

In the UK, we generally all share the same ancestry, so to say that we all hate each other is a bit silly. Obviously we have a minority of nationalistic people here, we're like cousins who point and laugh at each other.

[planekrazy]

One thing that wasn't really mentioned is the Great in Great Britain doesn't refer to Greatness but it's other meaning being the largest. The real term is Greater Britain therefore largest of the British Isles, over the years it has been shortened to Great. There are examples all across the country, the area surrounding the old City of London is called Greater London, there is also Greater Manchester etc, there is a village near me called Great Missenden because it was the largest part of the settlement of Missenden.
So Great Britain is not named for any sort of vanity, its purely Geographical.
Hope that helps

[hannesmayer]

Akrotiri & Dhekelia are basically two military bases an Cyprus that still belong to the UK. They kept them after Cyprus became independent. That's why they don't have their own flag, like most other oversea territories.

[loopywren]

I never realised how complicated this would seem to foreigners to our country. We don't forget about Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. Akrotiri and Dekalia are in the island of Cyprus.

[johnritter]

One thing to remembers is that the combined populations of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland is only slightly larger than the population of London.

[fossy]

The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia is a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus. The areas, which include British military bases and installations, as well as other land, were retained by the British under the 1960 treaty of independence, Wikipedia.

[janettesinclair]

One thing that bugs me is when people refer to “the King/Queen of England” when the monarch is so much more than that (as this video shows).

[bobbell]

just to complicate the issue even further. In the sports of rugby union, cricket and netball Ireland competes as one All Ireland with the Republic and Nothern Ireland joiined together. In horseracing, the two Northern Ireland tracks at Down Royal and Downpatrick come under the Irish racing authorities not the British authorities.

[voyanceelle]

You should look up the history of Ireland! This is quite essential history knowledge for Europe!!

[davidw]

KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid):

There are four 'nations', England (the largest bit), Scotland (the bit at the top), Wales (the bit on the left) and Northern Ireland (the bit further to the left, separated from the others by the Irish Sea).

England, Scotland and Wales together form Great Britain (not a legal entity, simply a geographical description).

Add in Northern Ireland and you have the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

For some reason - which I can't fully explain, but which you might consider self-explanatory - for international purposes we call ourselves British rather than United Kingdomish. However, although the English tend to be happy to call ourselves British, the Scots and Welsh generally insist that they are Scottish or Welsh - and NEVER English! Indeed, there is a strong movement in Scotland for full independence from the United Kingdom; and there is a less strong movement in Wales for full independence.

The Republic of Ireland is a completely independent, self-governing country, which happens to be attached physically to the United Kingdom, just like Canada and Mexico are attached physically to the USA. [Historically it was a part of the Kingdom, but it became independent in the first half of the 20th century.]

Just ignore all the overseas territories, it's very complicated. A bit like Puerto Rico or Guantanamo. I don't know what their relationship is to the USA, and you don't need to know the relationship to the UK of all those odd islands in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans!😀

[jackcarter]

Reaction suggestion - Why are British Place Names So Hard to Pronounce? By Jay Foreman.

[psilocyble]

You sound like you're about to cry at the end of this. It's hilarious :D

[McCloy]

Its worth noting that England doesnt have its own Army, Navy or Airforce.
We have the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Airforce (RAF)
They all contain troops from Scotland, England, Wales Northern Ireland and the British Overseas Teritories. We also have a Ghurka Regiment from Nepal.

[Jeffers]

Akrotiri and Dhekelia are two territories on the island of Cyprus owned by the UK