In 1455, a civil war was begun to decide who should be king of England. It was fought between the supporters of two families: the House of Lancaster and the House of York. This war was called the Wars of the Roses, because the symbol of Lancaster was a red rose and the symbol of York was a white rose.

The British constitution is not written down in any single document, and therefore it is described as ‘unwritten’. Some people believe that there should be a single document, but others believe an unwritten constitution allows for more flexibility and better government.

After his victory in the Wars of the Roses, Henry VII wanted to make sure that England remained peaceful and that his position as king was secure. He deliberately strengthened the central administration of England and reduced the power of the nobles. He was thrifty and built up the monarchy’s financial reserves.

Many people volunteer simply because they want to help other people.

The Laurence Olivier Awards take place annually at different venues in London. There are a variety of categories, including best director, best actor and best actress in theatre.

John Major was Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher, and helped establish the Northern Ireland peace process.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have a national saint, called a patron saint. Each saint has a special day. St David’s Day (1 March) is celebrated in Wales. While it is no longer a public holiday, the day is still celebrated. Parades and small festivals are held all over the country.

The Scottish physician and researcher John MacLeod (1876-1935) was the co-discoverer of insulin, used to treat diabetes.

The Norman Conquest was the last successful foreign invasion of England and led to many changes in government and social structures in England. Norman French, the language of the new ruling class, influenced the development of the English language as we know it today.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have parliaments or assemblies of their own, with devolved powers in defined areas.

The laws passed after the Glorious Revolution are the beginning of what is called ‘constitutional monarchy’. The monarch remained very important but was no longer able to insist on particular policies or actions if Parliament did not agree.

Since 1997, some powers have been devolved from the central government to give people in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland more control over matters that directly affect them.

County Courts deal with a wide range of civil disputes. These include people trying to get back money that is owed to them, cases involving personal injury, family matters, breaches of contract, and divorce.

The group used civil disobedience as part of their protest to gain the vote for women. They chained themselves to railings, smashed windows and committed arson. Many of the women, including Emmeline, went on hunger strike.

Almost everybody in the UK who is in paid work, including self-employed people, must pay National Insurance Contributions.

On 6 June 1944, allied forces landed in Normandy (this event is often referred to as ‘D-Day’). Following victory on the beaches of Normandy, the allied forces pressed on through France and eventually into Germany. The Allies comprehensively defeated Germany in May 1945.

The Eden Project is located in Cornwall, in the south west of England. Its biomes, which are like giant greenhouses, house plants from all over the world. The Eden Project is also a charity which runs environmental and social projects internationally.

The UK has hosted the Olympic Games on three occasions: 1908, 1948 and 2012. The Paralympic Games for 2012 were also hosted in London.

Two years after Sir Francis Chichester sailed singlehanded around the world (1966/67), Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person to do this without stopping.

After his campaign in Ireland and victory over Charles Il at Worcester, Cromwell was recognised as the leader of the new republic. He was given the title of Lord Protector and ruled until his death in 1658.

There are many variations in language in the different parts of the UK. The English language has many accents and dialects. In Wales, many people speak Welsh - a completely different language from English - and it is taught in schools and universities. In Scotland, Gaelic (again, a different language) is spoken in some parts of the Highlands and Islands, and in Northern Ireland some people speak Irish Gaelic.

Most citizens of the UK, the Irish Republic or the Commonwealth aged 18 or over can stand for public office. There are some exceptions, including members of the armed forces, civil servants, and people found guilty of certain criminal offences.

The Council of Europe has no power to make laws but draws up conventions and charters, the most well-known of which is the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, usually called the European Convention on Human Rights.

Evelyn Waugh (1903-66) wrote satirical novels, including Decline and Fall and Scoop. He is perhaps best known for Brideshead Revisited.