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ENGLAND - The flag of St. George

England was the most powerful nation in the British Isles. England
was often at war with other countries. Surrounded by Wales,
Scotland and Ireland, she feared that these neighbouring
countries could be used as a base for attack and could gang up with
Englands enemies.
Britain today is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern
Ireland. Our flag, the Union Jack is made up of the flags of the following countries
and was intended as a sign of their unity.
WALES Already unified so came under the flag of England

Wales was conquered by England in the 13th Century. There had been rebellions and
the biggest threat were the English Marcher lords who controlled half the land. In
1536 the Act of Union joined England and Wales officially. The Marcher Lordships
were abolished and English law to extend to all of Wales.
SCOTLAND - The flag of St. Andrew

In 1603 James VI of Scotland became James I of England.
Despite sharing a monarch, England and Scotland kept their own
Parliaments. It was only in 1 707 that they were joined by the Act
of Union and the first union flag was created. This was due to
fears that Scotland and France would join together to replace the
new king George, with James the son of James II.
IRELAND - The flag of St. Patrick

Henry VII had claimed control in the 15th Century, it wasnt until
the 1 7th Century that there was an almost complete takeover of
Irish land by English and Scottish settlers. In 1690 the last of a
number of rebellions was put down. Power now lay in the hands of
the Protestants. The flag of St. Patrick was added in 1801 to make
the Union Jack we have today.
The Union Jack

As a symbol of unity between the four countries, the Union
Jack is made up of parts of all the different flags. The
word Jack means a flag on a small mast at the front of a
ship. This the our national flag.
Red
White White
White White
White
Blue
Blue
Blue Blue
Red
White
White
White White
English
Rose
Welsh
leek
Scottish
thistle
Irish
Shamrock
Red
B
B
B
B B
B
B
B
w

w

w
w

r

w

w

r

r

r

w

w

Put the title:
1. a) Copy and colour in the English flag.
b) Write out and complete the sentence below:
England was the most ________ ______ __ ___ _______ _____. She fear ed
that the sur r oundi ng countr i es could be used as a ____ ___ ______.

2. a) Explain why there is no Welsh flag to copy and colour in.
b) Write out and complete the sentence below:
I n ____ the ___ __ _____ joi ned England and Wales together offi ci ally.
Engli sh law now extended to ___ __ _____.

3. a) Copy and colour in the Scottish flag
b) Write out and complete the sentence below:
I n 1603 the K i ng of Scotland also became the ____ of England.
Scotland and England kept the same P__________ though. Only i n ____
wer e both countr i es offi ci ally joi ned together . The fi r st _____ ____ ___
_______.

4. a) Copy and colour in the Irish flag
b) Write out and complete the sentence below:
I t was not unti l the 17th Centur y that ther e was __ ______ ________
________ __ _____ ____ __ _______ ___ ________ ________. The last r ebelli on
was stopped i n ____. The flag of __ _______ was added i n ____ to made
the U ni on J ack flag we have today.

5. Copy and colour in the Union Jack flag.

6. Answer the following questions in full sentences:
a) What does the Union Jack signify?
b) What does the word Jack mean?
c) What connection does the meaning of Jack have with flags?
EXTENSION WORK
Draw a table with a row for all four countries, showing:

Country Drawing of the National Symbol Colours of the flag Patron Saint