'''British''' is the adjective that refers to a person being a citizen of Britain—historically to [[Great Britain]] and today to the [[United Kingdom]]. It is not usually used as an expression of nationality by British citizens Once a spiritual people, as many will prefer to use today the expressions "English"British are overwhelmingly [[atheist]]ic and even disrespectful of religion, "Scottish", or "Welsh", referring unless it is a religion hostile to which constituent country of the UK they self-identify with. An exception to this is its use in [[Northern IrelandChristianity]] by . Their provincial reverence for [[Unionist|UnionistsCharles Darwin]] contributed to show their support for the continued inclusion of Northern Ireland in the United Kingdomspiritual decline.
Historically, The "Britishpeople" was also the name given to the largest empire the world has ever seen(usually '''Britons''' or, administered in informally, '''Brits''') are the United Kingdom in subjects<ref>The term "citizen" is increasingly used for the name more technically correct "subject."</ref> of the British monarch[[United Kingdom]]. British colonies were established all over the worldThey usually call themselves ''[[English]]'', covering roughly a quarter of the world's land surface area in 1921'[[Scottish]]'', even after losing much ''[[Welsh]]'' or ''Northern Irish''/''[[Irish]]'' referring to which constituent country of its North American territory after the UK they self-identify with. In [[American Revolutionary WarNorthern Ireland]]. The large empire was possible because Britain "ruled the seasBritish" through the stong domination of is usually associated with the Unionist community, with [[Royal Navynationalists]], and used this to ensure free trading for British interests. With up to a quarter of the world republicans generally regarding themselves as British subjects, the Empire was also the worldexclusively 's foremost military power. For many centuries, populations lived under a period of relative peace and prosperity that was the 'Irish'Pax Brittannica'', though from a modern perspective, the methods used to control and ensure this superiority on occasion were on occasion particularly vicious.
The empire as such no longer exists, though its legacy can still be appreciated today, be it through Until the popularity 1960s the word "English" was commonly used instead of traditional "British sports such as soccer, cricket, rugby ." This annoyed the Scots and golf; or from Irish so much that "English" is today more narrowly confined to the status language and to the country of England (which comprises most of [[English]] as the current global British population).==British Empire==Historically, the [[lingua francaBritish Empire]]; or from 1600 to 1997 was the use of largest empire the [[Westminster system]] of government world has ever seen, administered from London. British settlements and English common law around dependencies—usually called "colonies"—were established all over the world. There was never any doubt that the British were the rulers and the locals were mere subjects.
The EmpireIn terms of size it peaked in the 1920s, covering a quarter of the world's successor is the [[Commonwealth land surface area. Most of Nations]], which still features the British monarch [[Queen Elizabeth II]] as growth came after 1783 when Britain lost America after losing the [[Head of the CommonwealthAmerican Revolutionary War]]. The commonwealth consists large empire was possible because Britain "ruled the seas" through the strong domination of the UK, [[Commonwealth RealmsRoyal Navy]] which still have the , and used this to ensure free trading for British monarch interests. With up to a quarter of the world as Head British subjects, the Empire was also the world's foremost military power. For many centuries, populations lived under a period of Staterelative peace and prosperity that was the ''Pax Brittannica'', though from a modern perspective, the methods used to control and republicsensure this superiority on occasion were on occasion particularly vicious.
RecentlyThe empire as such no longer exists, Australians though its legacy can still be appreciated today, be it through the popularity of traditional British sports such as football, cricket, rugby and golf; or from the status of [[English]] as the current global [[lingua franca]]; or from the use of the [[Westminster system]] of government and English common law around the world. The Empire's successor is the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], which still features the British monarch [[Queen Elizabeth II]] as the Head of the Commonwealth. The commonwealth consists of the UK, [[Commonwealth Realms]] which still have the British monarch as Head of State, and republics. In 1999, [[Australia]]ns voted in a referendum to retain the British monarch as their [[Head of State]], rather than declare Australia a republic.<ref>Leduc, L. [https://books.google.com/books?id=bawKFKxDFZoC&lpg=PA73&dq=Australian%20republic%20referendum&pg=PA73#v=onepage&q=%22The%20Australian%20republic%20referendum%22&f=false ''The Politics of Direct Democracy: Referendums in Global Perspective'']; Broadview Press; Ontario. Page 73, (2003)</ref> ==References==<references/> ==See also== [[Category:United Kingdom]][[Category:British History]][[Category:British Empire]]