United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain is a nation state located in Europe. It is known as one of the last bastions of democracy in Europe (along with Ireland).

18th and 19th Centuries
The United Kingdom was founded in 1707 after the signing of the 1706 and 1707 Acts of Union. The U.K. eventually colonised much of America and emerged victorious after Seven Years' War, gaining France‘s largest colony in north America, known as New France. However in 1776 the Thirteen Colonies began rebelling against the British. After the American Revolution, the British lost the Thirteen Colonies but still managed to maintain its colony in Canada. In the late 19th century, Britain became involved in the Scramble of Africa, gaining a large part of the continent.

1900-1945 (under construction)
In World War One the U.K. sided with the Entente against Germany and the Central Powers. The Entente won and forced the newly established Weimar Republic to sign the Treaty of Versailles.

After the Great War the century-long political struggle between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party ended, with the Liberals being replaced by the Labour Party as the Conservatives' main rival.

The 1929 Wall Street Crash in America effected the whole world. In the U.K. it led to considerable unemployment, as well as political and social unrest in the 1930s, with rising membership in communist and socialist parties. A coalition government was formed in 1931.

A safe haven for governments in exile
The United Kingdom is one of the "havens" for governments in exile. Most notably the West German and French governments and the Scandinavian Monarchies.

Flag
The official flag of the United Kingdom is the Union Jack, which represents Scotland,England,Wales and, until few years ago, Northern Ireland.

Economics
The main economic system of the U.K. is capitalism. Capitalism is an economic system based on private ownership of the means of production and the owners operation of profit.