Chapter 5 - A modern, thriving society Flashcards
The UK today
The impact of immigration
10% of the population will have a parent or grandparent born outside the UK
The Nations of the UK
The UK is located in the North West of Europe.
The longest distance on the mainland is from John O’Groats on the north coast of Scotland to Land’s End in the south-west corner of England. It is about 870 miles (1,400 km).
Most people live in towns and cities, but most is countryside, where people go on holiday, for walks, etc.
Cities of the UK
England
London Birmingham Liverpool Leeds Sheffield Bristol Manchester Bradford Newcastle upon Tyne Plymouth Southampton Norwich
Cities if the UK
Wales
Cardiff
Swansea
Newport
Cities of the UK
Northern Ireland
Belfast
Cities of the UK
Scotland
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Dundee
Aberdeen
Capital Cities of the UK
Capital of the UK: London
Scotland: Edinburgh
Wales: Cardiff
Northern Ireland: Belfast
UK Currency
Pound Sterling, symbol £
There are 100 pence to 1 pound.
Coins: 1p, 2p, 5p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2
Notes: £5, £10, £20, £50
Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own banknotes, which are valid everywhere in the UK, but shops and business don’t have to accept them.
Languages an Dialects
The English language has many accents and dialects.
In Wales, many people speak Welsh, which is very different from English and is taught in schools and universities,
In Scotland, many speak Gaelic, which is also very different from English. It is spoken in many parts of the Highlands and Islands.
In Northern Ireland some people speak Irish Gaelic,
Population per year
1600 - just over 4 million 1700 - 5 million 1801 - 8 million 1851 - 20 million 1901 - 40 million 1951 - 50 million 1998 - 57 million 2005 - just under 60 million 2010 - just over 62 million 2017 - just over 66 million
Population growth
The population growth in the UK over the years has to do with migration and longer life expectancy
Population split
Population is very unequally distributed over the UK.
England 84%
Scotland 8%
Wales 5%
Northern Ireland 3%
An ageing population
Improved living standards and better healthcare, people are living longer than ever before.
There is a record number of people over 85 and over.
This has an impact in the cost of pensions and healthcare.
Ethnic Diversity
The UK population is very diverse and it’s changing rapidly, especially in large cities like London.
There are people in the UK from all over the world.
Surveys show the most chosen ethnicity is white (European, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and America).
Other significant groups are Asian, black and mixed descent.
An Equal Society
The UK doesn’t allow discrimination because of someone’s gender or because they are or are not married.
They have equal rights to work, own property, marry and divorce. Both parents are responsible for children.
Women are about half of the workforce of Britain.
On average girls have better grades than boys and there are more women than men at university.
Religion
The UK is historically a Christian country.
In the 2011 Census, 59% of the people identified as Christian.
4.8% identified as Muslim
1.5% identified as Hindu
0.8% identified as Sikh
less than 0.5% identified as either Buddhist or Jewish
There are different religious buildings all over the UK: Islamic mosques, Hindu Temples, Jewish Synagogues, Sikh gurdwaras and Buddhist Temples.
In the 2011 Census, 25% of people said they had no religion.
Religion in England - The Church of England
There is a constitutional link between Church and state..
The Church if England is the official church of the state.
Called Anglican Church in other countries and the Episcopal Church in Scotland and the USA.
It is a Protestant Church which exists since the Reformation in the 1530s.
The monarch is the head of the Church of England; and the spiritual leader is the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The monarch has the right to choose the Archbishop and other senior church officials, but the choice is usually made by the PM and a committee appointed by the Church.
Several Church if England Bishops sit in the House of Lords.
Religion in Scotland - National Church of Scotland
The National Church is the Church of Scotland, which is Presbyterian.
It is governed by Ministers and Elders.
The Chairperson of the General Assembly is called the Moderator, who is appointed for 1 year only and speaks on behalf of the Church.
Other religions in the UK
There is no established Church in Wales or Northern Ireland.
There are other Protestant Christian group in the UK: Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and Quakers.
There are other denominations of Christianity, the main one is the Roman Catholic Church.
Patron Saints’ Days
1st of March, St David’s, patron Saint of Wales
17h of March, St. Patrick, patron Saint of Northern Ireland
23rd of April, St. George, patron Saint of England
30th of November, St. Andrew, patron Saint of Scotland
Only Scotland and Northern Ireland have it as a bank holiday, thought is Scotland not all businesses close. And they hold lots of events across the country.
Though England and Wales don’t have it as a bank holiday, there are celebrations, such as parades and small festivals.
Customs and Traditions
The main Christian Festivals - Christmas Day
Christmas Day: meal usually includes roast turkey, Christmas pudding and Mince pies.
Customs and Traditions
The main Christian Festivals - Boxing Day
The day after Christmas, which is also a bank holiday.
Customs and Traditions
The main Christian Festivals - Easter
Takes place in March or April. It marks the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday and his rising from the dead on Easter Sunday. Both Good Friday and the following Monday are bank holidays.
Customs and Traditions
The main Christian Festivals - Lent
The 40 days before Easter, and it is a time when Christians take time to reflect and prepare from Easter.
People would fast over this period, nowadays people give up something, like a favourite food.
Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day: the day before Lent starts. People eat Pancakes, as an indulgence before fasting.
The Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. There are church services where Christians are marked with an ash cross on their forehead, as a symbol of death and sorrow for sin.
Easter Eggs represent the symbol of new life.
Other Religious Festivals
Diwali
It falls in October or November and lasts for 5 days, often called the Festival of Lights.
It is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs.
It celebrates the victory of good over evil and the gaining of knowledge.
There is a famous celebration of Diwali in Leicester.
Other Religious Festivals
Hannukah
In November or December and it’s celebrated for 8 days.
It is to remember the Jews’ struggle for religious freedom.
A candle is lit for every day of the festival on a stand of 8 candles called the ‘menorah’. This relates to the story where oil that should have lasted only 1 day, did so for 8.
Other Religious Festivals
Eid al-Fitr
Celebrates the end of Ramadan, when Muslims have fasted for a month.
They thank Allah for giving them the strength to complete the fast.
The date it takes places changes every year. Muslims attend special services and meals.
Other Religious Festivals
Eid ul Adha
remembers that prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to.
It remembers Muslims’ commitment to God.
Many Muslims sacrifice an animal to eat during the Festival. In Britain this has to be done in a Slaughterhouse.
Other Religious Festivals
Vaisakhi
Also spelt Baisakhi
Is a Sikh festival that celebrates the founding of the Sikh community known as Khalsa. It is celebrated on the 14th of April every year with parades, dancing and singing.
Other Festivals and Traditions
New Year
1st of January, and it’s a public holiday. In Scotland, it;s called Hogmanay and the 2nd of January is also a bank holiday. For some Scottish people this is bigger than Christmas.
Other Festivals and Traditions
Valentine’s Day
14th of February, lovers exchange cards and gifts. Some people send anonymous cards to someone they secretly admire.
Other Festivals and Traditions
April Fool’s Day
1st of April, people play jokes on each other until midday. TV and newspapers often have stories tjay are April Fools’ jokes.
Other Festivals and Traditions
Mothering Day or Mother’s Day
Sunday 3 weeks before Easter. Children buy cards and gifts for their mothers.
Other Festivals and Traditions
Father’s Day
The third Sunday in June. Children buy cards and gifts for their fathers.
Other Festivals and Traditions
Halloween
31st of October, is an ancient festival which has roots in the pagan festival to mark the beginning of Winter.
People usually dress in scary costumes, and the younger ones play ‘trick or treat’.
People also carve lantern pumpkins and put a lantern inside.
Other Festivals and Traditions
Bonfire Night
5th of November, people in Britain set fireworks at home or in special displays.
In 1605, a group of Catholics led by Guy Fawkes, failed in their plan to kill the Protestant king with a bomb in the House of Parliament.
Other Festivals and Traditions
Remembrance Day
11th of November, commemorates those who died fighting for the UK and its allies.
It originally commemorated the dead of the 1st WW, which ended on the 11th of November 1918.
People were poppies, as it was the flower that was found in the battlefields of the 1st World War.
At 11am there is a 2 minute silence and wreaths are laid on the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London
Bank Holidays
These are days where banks and businesses are closed for the day. They are of no religious significance.
They are the beginning of May, late May/or early June, and August.
In Northern Ireland, the anniversary of the Battle of Boyne is also celebrated and is a bank holiday.
Sport
Major Stadiums in the UK
Wembley Stadium in London and Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Sport
Local Governments
Local governments and private companies provide sports facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, football pitches, dry ski slopes and gymnasiums.
Sports which originated in the UK
Cricket, football, lawn tennis, gold and rugby.
The Olympic Games in the UK
1908
1948
2012 - the main Olympic Site was in Stratford, East London.
The British team was very successful and finished 3rd in the medal table.
Paralympic Games 2012
Were also hosted in London.
The Paralympic Games have their origin in the work of Dr Sir Ludwig Guttman, a German refugee, at the Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire..
Dr Guttman developed new methods of treatment for people with spinal injuries and encouraged patients to take part in exercise and sport.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Sir Roger Bannister (1929-2018)
First man in the world to run 1 mile under 4 minutes, in 1954.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Sir Jackie Stewart (1939-)
Scottish former racing driver who won the F1 world championship 3 times.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Bobby Moore (1941-93)
Captained the English football team that won the world cup in 1966.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Sir Ian Botham (1955-)
Captained the English cricket team and held a number of English Test cricket records, both for batting and bowling.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Jayne Torvill (1957-) and Christopher Dean (1958-)
Won gold medals for ice dancing at the Olympic Games in 1984 and 4 consecutive world championships.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Sir Steve Redgrave (1962-)
won gold medals in rowing in 5 consecutive Olympic Games and is one of Britain’s greatest Olympians.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson (1969-)
Athlete who used wheelchair and won 16 Paralympic medals, including 11 gold medals, in races over 5 Paralympic games. She won the London Marathon 6 times and broke 30 world records.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Dame Kelly Holmes (1970-)
Won 2 gold medals for running the in the 2004 Olympic Games. She holds a number of British and European Records.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Dame Ellen MacArthur (1976-)
Yachtswoman, in 2004 became the fastest person to sail around the world single-handed.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Sir Chris Hoy (1976-)
Scottish cyclist who won 6 gold and 1 silver Olympic medals.
He also won 11 world championship titles.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
David Weir (1979-)
Paralympian in wheelchair, he won 6 gold medals in 2 Paralympic games.
He also won the London Marathon 6 times.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Sir Bradley Wiggins (1980-)
Cyclist.
First British person to win the Tour de France in 2012.
Won 8 Olympic medals: gold in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games,
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Sir Mo Farrah (1983-)
British distance runner, born in Somalia.
Won medals in 2012 and 2016 Olympics for the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
First Briton to won the Olympic gold medal in 10,000 meters.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill (1986-)
Athlete.
Won 2012 Olympic gold medal in the heptathlon and silver in the 2016 Olympic Games. It includes 7 track and field events.
She also holds a number of British athletics records.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Sir Andy Murray (1987-)
Scottish tennis player who won the men’s singles in the US Open.
First British man to win a singles title in a Grand Slam tournament since 1936. In the same year, he won 2 Olympic gold and silver medals.
In 2013 and 2016 he won the men’s singles at Wimbledon. He also won the gold Olympic medal in 2016.
Notable British Sportsmen and Women
Ellie Simmonds (1994-)
Paralympian, won gold medals for swimming at 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympics. She holds a number of gold records.
She was the youngest member of the British team in the 2008 Games.
Cricket
Originated in England and now played in many countries.
Games can last up to 5 days, and still end in a draw,
Complex rules are said to resemble the best of British character and sense of fair play.
Cricket expressions
'rain stopped play' 'batting on a sticky wicket' 'playing a straight bat' 'bowled a googly' it's just not cricket'
Cricket
The Ashes
Series of test matches played between England and Australia.
Football
UK’s most popular sport.
First professional clubs were formed in the late 19th century.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate leagues.
The Premier League is one of the most famous ones in the world, and many of the best players in the world play for the Premier League.
Many UK teams play in competitions such as UEFA (Union of European Football Association), Champions League, against other teams in Europe.
Each UK country has its national team which compete with others internationally in tournaments such as FIFA, the World Cup and the UEFA Championships.
England won only in 1966, when it hosted the World Cup.
Rugby
Originated in England in the early 19th century.
There are different rules: union and league.
Each one has its leagues and national teams.
6 Nations is the most famous competition: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy.
The Super League is the most well-known rugby league (club) competition.
Horse Racing
They are traced back in the UK from Roman times. It is associated with royalty.
Horse-racing events: Royal Ascot (5 day race meeting in Berkshire, attended by the Royal family; Grand National at Aintree, near Liverpool; Scottish Grand National at Ayr.
There is a National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket, Suffolk.
Golf
Traced back to the 15th century in Scotland.
There are public and private golf courses all over the UK..
St. Andrews in Scotland is known as the home of golf..
Open Championship is the only ‘major’ tournament held outside the United States. It is hosted by a different golf course every year.
Tennis
Evolved in England in the late 19th century.
First tennis club was founded in Leamington Spa in 1872.
Wimbledon is the most famous tournament hosted in Britain. It takes place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. It’s the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and the only ‘Grand Slam’ event played on grass.
