Ireland. The Normans invaded Britain in 1066, they landed in Ireland a century later in 1169

 

The Normans invaded Britain in 1066, they landed in Ireland a century later in 1169. To ensure continuing control over the troublesome province of Ulster in the North of Ireland, the land was confiscated and given to small Scottish farmers. The idea was to ensue that they remained there and helped the English kings to control the country. During the Reformation Ireland didn’t accept the protestant doctrine, except the Ulster Scottish farmers.

The next major event was the Cromwellian army’s campaign in Ireland immediately after the English Civil War. Cromwell was short of cash to pay his troops at the end of the war, and confiscated 80% of the land for his troops instead of money. It increased the hostility to England and Protestants.

The next British attempt to solve the “Irish Problem” was the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland in 1801. But the new name didn’t solve the problems of Ireland. The Irish peasants owned little peaces of land, cultivating potatoes. In 1845- 1848 potato blight caused famine: million people died. Since that emigration had become the constant feature of the Irish history. Between 1840 and 1900 the population of Ireland fell from 9 to 3 million. In the same period the population of England grew from 16 to 32 million.

The series of conflicts and guerrilla war with cruelties on both sides ended in 1921 the formation of Independent Ireland and Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom. Today 50% of inhabitants are Protestants and would like to remain in the United Kingdom. 40% are Catholics feeling they have the right to be part of a united Ireland. It is clear today that the Northern Irish problem has not been solved – whether it ever can be is the question.

Economically Northern Ireland is a prosperous part of Britain Belfast is the major shipbuilding centre. Ireland is famous for its green countryside, it is also known as the “Emerald Isle”. The Irish language has the third oldest literature in Europe after Greek and Latin. The well-known English writes Oscar Wild and Bernand Shaw came from Ireland.

 

Wales

 

The Celts had fled westwards under sustained invasions from Romans, Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. The Anglo Saxon English kings had not ruled Wales, and at the Norman invasion there was a collection of small kingdoms. It took the Normans some 200 years to gain control of the whole of Wales. Finally the Act of Union in 1536 “incorporated, united and annexed” Wales to England. Since then English law and government have ruled in Wales. Until the middle of the XVIII century Wales remained a rural backwater. Then the exploitation of coal and iron brought the Industrial revolution to Wales.

The need for labour in the south Wales coalfields brought an influx of English into this area which brought about an erosion of the Welsh language, though Welsh continued to be spoken extensively in North Wales. Today the mining of Welsh coal has all but disappeared, but the language continues to be spoken reasonably widely as a second language.

Wales has been governed from London via the Welsh Office, under a cabinet minister. Following the referendum on limited devolution in 1997, the Welsh were seen to be virtually equally spilt on the subject, with the more rural “Welsh” areas being for devolution, and the more industrial areas being against it.

Canada

Canada is the second largest country in the world. There are more lakes and inland waters in Canada than in any other country, in fact 7.6% is made up of fresh water. Most images of Canada refer to the Mounties, bears, snow or the Rocky Mountains with the amazing lakes. Tourism is a large part of the economy with the abundant natural resources quickly turning Canada into a rich and vibrant country that is permanently listed at the top of the best places to live. There are two official languages – English and French – and Montreal in Quebec is the world’s largest French-speaking city outside of France. All the services offered by the Federal Government are in English and French. Almost every product you buy has English and French on the labels and most public services are available in both languages. Outside Quebec the majority of people speak English; about 18 percent of Canadians are fluently bilingual.

The First Nations or Indian people were the original inhabitants of Canada and the name comes from their language and means “Village” or “Community”. The Vikings, who arrived in the XI century and didn’t stay for long, were the first Europeans to land in Canada. Canada still belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations, British Queen is its head. Canada is a Democratic Federation and has both Federal and Provincial Governments. Public education is the responsibility of each Provincial Government and is paid for through taxes. Canada has a public healthcare system; essential medical treatment is available to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents.