What general knowledge facts would you expect someone who is British should know?

[jennymanara]

What facts of general knowledge do you think all adults who are British should know?

The Holocaust and what it is
Basic facts about the first and second world war
Basic facts about each of the main religions in the world
Basic grasp of geography worldwide and in Britain

As someone only living here since. 2000 I remember my team leader correcting my letters as being “too German”. It seems the British do not go straight to the topic like I did. I do accept , we Germany have a bit of a direct approach and skip flowery speech.

My German colleagues think it is really the only way to start a conversation is by talking about the weather. And no one will mention football.

Another thing I think is very British is not seeing tax as a matter of society but something people don’t like paying. Like “why do I need to pay for schools, I don’t have children”. Other countries see these experts sea as for the goods of society and a necessary evil. Not that everyone will like it but accept it.

This is a great thread.

I'm going to look up a lot of these things that I'm ashamed to say I don't know much about.

I have never heard of Marcus Garvey.

But I know plenty about the dissolution of the monasteries, how the Church of England came to be the official religion of England, the Act of Union, the history of Ireland. So I'm not totally clueless.

I think people should be aware of how politics work and how the media works. And how the two are intertwined.

Marcus Garvey was born in Jamaica and was a political activist fighting for the rights of black people.

I think older people will know who King Arthur's wife is, but not sure about younger people.

Yes, you are definitely the only person who thinks everyone should understand the dissolution of the monasteries.
I think you are probably the only person who roams the countryside finding ruined monasteries on a regular basis too

I know when I've read the Citizenship test on previous occasions, there are loads of strange things on it that most natives of the UK would never be able to answer.

I have never heard of Marcus Garvey.

Which is why we now have Black History Month. Maybe we need Dissolution of the Monasteries Day

I accept ibu about the dissolution of the monasteries now, but it is fascinating history. You can still see signs on some walls where local people physically attacked some monasteries and even tore down some walls. Sadly a lot of old manuscripts were burnt at well.

jennymanara I'm going to look up the dissolution of the monasteries.

You sound really interested in it and I think I'll enjoy learning about it.

Did you know that the nursery rhyme Little Jack Horner is about the dissolution of the monasteries?

Mary Mary Quite Contrary refers to Mary I and Catholic recusants. Ring a Ring a Roses is about the Black Death. And Oranges and Lemons is a reference to public executions.

Who would have guessed that nursery rhymes could be quite so subversive? Like OP, I find history fascinating because it is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives.

I knew about the other nursery rhymes, but not Jack Horner.

@findingmyfeet12 Hope you enjoy reading about it.

I think people need a basic understanding of the Bible. It is impossible to understand a lot of our great literature or paintings if you know nothing about the Bible.

A lot of the history suggested is English history not British history, monasteries declined in Scotland but for different reasons
The church of Scotland is not a Scottish version of the church of England, Largely Romans in Britain, William the conqueror and the Tudors are English history, what about the declaration of Arbroath who was Kenneth Macalpine, Duncan I, ? Who were the Covenanters?

@teacupdrama That is not true, I talked about scottish history as well. But the point of this thread is for everyone to add their views, not for 1 person to post a definitive list.

So scottish history I think everyone should know about is
How United KIngdom was formed, the act of the union and the events that led up to it.
Highland clearances
Clearing of forests in the Highlands
Land leases that created different types of housing from those in England
How the Roman Empire led to the abolition of celtic practices in Scotland.

Topically I would expect knowledge about:
Politics - leaders of the 3 main parties, cabinet members, an understanding of the voting system, how constituencies work - Peterborough showed how many people didn't realise that there are 2 constituencies there with the recent by-election, a basic understanding of why Ireland has a Republic of and Northern.
Royal family - historical knowledge and the queen's influence on politics, although limited more so now, also Henry VIIIs creation of the CofE and why.
Literature - British authors, classic and modern, folklaw/fairytales
Geography - to locate counties on a map, to be able to name the capitals of England, Scotland, Wales and both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
To explain the difference between Great Britain and the United Kingdom
Wildlife - a general knowledge of native animals and plants
What the NHS is
Why fish and chips is considered a national dish!

A basic pancake recipe.
A preferred tea Blend

What litter and recycling bins are for and how to use them

I got the one wrong about Christianity too.

Some basic facts about Scotland, NI, Wales. For example, the fact that they exist and aren't called England.

Knowledge sadly lacking for the vast majority of English people I meet.

This must be the most the word monasteries has ever been used on a thread. If only they hadn’t been dissoluted I bet they’d be ever so pleased so many people were talking about them.

I am embarrassed to say I did alot of these things I dont understand. Like our voting system I've read about it and I'm still none the wiser. I also did gcse history and after half a school year learning about NI I still dont really understand which is probably why I got a D (also because I forgot all the dates of the second world war).

I can on the other hand name places and know alot of other historical facts as well as name plants and indigenous species.

I just tried the life in the UK test - there's some odd stuff on there!

I'm British by birth, with two British parents, grew up mostly in England, private school and post graduate educated in the UK - I failed the test with 70%

There were no literature questions

I took my German citizenship test (for real, not an online practice version) after the Brexit vote and got 100%

The German citizenship test is mostly things you actually need to know to live in Germany - some history and politics but very basic, most of it is about actually living here - cultural norms etc. The German language test is also practical - the kind of German you need when dealing with more straightforward bureaucracy.

I wonder who designed the living in the UK test and why there's such an emphasis on where monuments are in London!

I got 58%

Paul Sinha did a good take on it:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b037vlbn

(currently unavailable ... the caprices of the BBC are definitely something to learn about ...)

Just done another one - who was Henry Purcell and what was the population of Britain in 1901?

Why on earth are those things people need to know in order to get British citizenship?

I love looking at ruined monasteries. It surprises me that more people wouldn't know about the dissolution of the monarchies because it's tied into the wider question of religion, why we have the CofE etc.

^ 'monarchies' - 'monasteries'