SamuelRSmith on 17 June 2008
@bardicverse:
Great Britain was formed in 1706, in the "Treaty of Union" essentially giving England and Scotland the same Government (bearing in mind that Wales is just a principality of England, it's not actually a country).
Northern Ireland had been under English control for quite some time, however, it wasn't until 1800 that Nortern Ireland and Great Britain entered another act of union. Forming the "United Kingdom's of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
This means that Great Britain = England, (Wales,) and Scotland.
The UK = Great Britain and Northen Ireland.
It causes confusion because people shorthern the full name of the UK to just the United Kingdom, making people think that they are the same.
