the+union+flag

THE UNION FLAG

T he Union Flag, known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is the British flag.



It is called the Union Flag because it symbolises the administrative union of the countries of the United Kingdom. It is made up of the individual Flags of three of the Kingdom's countries all united under one Sovereign - the countries of England, Scotland and of Northern Ireland (since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom). As Wales was not a Kingdom but a Principality it could not be included on flag.

In 1194 A.D., Richard I of England introduced the Cross of St. George, a red cross on a white ground, as the National Flag of England. England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland were separate countries. However, this was soon to change.... In 1536, under Henry VIII, an Act of Union was passed making Wales, in effect a province of England.

After Queen Elizabeth I of England died in 1603, King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne and became King James of England. It was a union of the Crowns, but not yet of the nations. Each country still kept their own parliaments. Early in his reign James attempted to combine England and Scotland in a united kingdom of 'Great Britain'. This was the policy he presented to his first Parliament, called on 22 March 1604. The union was resisted. James defied them. On 20 October 1604 he proclaimed a new title for himself as 'King of Great Britain'.

A problem arose, which flag should be hoisted on the king's ships. English sailors resented the Scottish colours and the Scots scorned the cross of St. George. In 1606 the problem was solved ........
 * But what flag should be used? **

...... A compromise was the answer and it led to the creation of the first Union Flag. On 12 April 1606, the National Flags of Scotland and England were united for use at sea, thus making the first Union 'Jack'. Ashore however, the old flags of England Scotland continued to be used by their respective countries. A royal decree declared that the ships of the Kingdom of Great Britain "//shall bear on their maintops the red cross, commonly called St. George's cross, and the white cross, commonly called St. Andrew's cross//."

St. Andrew's cross St. George's cross

On 28th July, 1707, during the reign of Queen Anne, this flag was by royal proclamation made the National flag of Great Britain, for use ashore and afloat. The Act of Union of 1707, joined England and Scotland together, creating a single kingdom with a single Parliament called 'United Kingdom of Great Britain'. England Wales and Scotland were now united together under one monarch and one parliament.


 * Nearly one hundred years later, another country was added to the Union flag .... **

On 1 January 1801, Ireland was united with Great Britain and it became necessary to have a new National Flag in which Ireland was represented. The cross St Patrick was combined with the Union Flag of St George and St Andrew, to create the Union Flag that has been flown ever since.

St. Patrick's cross

SOME QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

1. What are the names of the three crosses used in the design of the Union Jack? What countries do they represent? 2. Why isn’t Wales represented in the British flag? 3. What is the difference between //ashore// and //afloat//? 4. Why did the first design of the flag appear? 5. How is it that in the 19th century a new flag was created?