The United Kingdom is probably the most famous country in the world, such as England, Great Britain, Britain, the British Empire, the British Isles, etc., which are often seen by people in the British name. So, what do these names mean differently?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (from the network)
In fact, these names are still different and should not be confused. As we know, the official name of the United Kingdom is "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland", but before Ireland's independence in 1921, its name was "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland", or the United Kingdom for short.
Irish Independence Movement (from the network)
The traditional geographical extent of the United Kingdom refers mainly to England, Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland on the isle of Great Britain. England is only an important part of Britain, but because it has played the most important role in British history, people often equate England with Britain.
Northern Ireland (from the network)
But in Britain, there is a strict distinction between England and England. "Great Britain" refers to England, Wales and Scotland on the Island of Great Britain, and is therefore known as the British Isles, which is the main body of the United Kingdom. In British custom and even in historical sources, Great Britain and the United Kingdom represent different geographical areas.
Canadian Independence (from the Network)
The term "British Empire" is the general term for The United Kingdom and its colonies and Dominions. In modern times, the once powerful British Empire gradually declined, and many colonies no longer followed the British horse and demanded a high degree of autonomy, so dominions emerged.
After Canada was the first to obtain Dominion status in 1867, Australia (1901), New Zealand (1907), Newfoundland (1917), the Commonwealth of South Africa (1910), Ireland (1921) and so on also obtained Dominion status.
South Africa (from the web)
In 1926, the British Imperial Convention was forced to recognize dominions and the United Kingdom as equal members of the Commonwealth. In 1931, the British Parliament passed the Westminster Act, which confirmed the equal relationship between the Dominions and the United Kingdom in the form of a law.
British Imperial Conference (from the web)
Thereafter, the name of the British Empire was replaced by the "Commonwealth" in official British documents. It can be seen that the Commonwealth is a national consortium established after the independence of some of the original colonies of the British Empire, which evolved from the British Empire, and the United Kingdom is only a member of the British Commonwealth.
Commonwealth Meeting (from the Web)
However, the name "British Empire" has not completely disappeared until now, for example, in some books or people's daily conversations, the term "British Empire" will still appear frequently, which is obviously a historical customary phenomenon, and the historical meaning is no longer the same thing.