Besides a common language, British and Americans have much in common, perhaps more than ever in their histories. Since World War II, the two nations have, for the most part, seen their interests as intertwined. They were founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and were especially close allies during the Cold War. In the past three decades, Great Britain has joined the United States in several military actions around the world, most notably in Iraq and Afghanistan, in the past decades.
Beyond these concerns, the two nations share much in terms of popular culture. American music and films are ubiquitous in Great Britain, and there have been a series of musical "British Invasions" in the 1960s, 80s, and 90s. Hit British television shows are as popular in the United States as in their country of origin, and vice versa. Some American television institutions (The Office, for example) are Americanized versions of British programs.
The NBA (National Basketball Association) and NFL (National Football League) are very popular in Britain, and English Premier League football has been embraced enthusiastically by millions of American fans. In recent years, both countries have experienced political turmoil and the rise of populist politics, but both peoples share a fundamental, if sometimes problematic, commitment to democratic government and culture.
The British and the Americans have a lot in common. For one, there is the obvious similarity of language. Both nations primarily speak English, as they have a shared history in which England was the ruler of the Americas for quite some time.
Beyond that, they have some less tangible similarities. To start with, they are both melting pots of sorts. England comes from the Angles, the Saxons, and the Celts, among many other groups that travelled to the British isles in medieval European times; America is known for having a population from many different backgrounds and cultures. Additionally, they are some of the mightiest military forces in history (particularly comparing the height of Britain’s navy to the modern American military). They are also representative democracies with famous constitutions (the Constitution/Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta).
The British and Americans have many things in common.
First, they share a common language. There are some minor differences between British English and American English, but it is the same language and arguably the most dominant one of the twenty-first century.
Second, they have a shared colonial history. The American colonies were under British control for 150 years. As the mother country, Britain transmitted much of its culture to America.
Third, both countries have a constitution. The British one is unwritten, and the American constitution was the first important written one. But they share key characteristics. For instance, both constitutions stemmed from the social contract theory.
Fourth, the last war between the countries was the War of 1812. Since the conclusion of that conflict in 1815, the two nations slowly grew closer. They were firm allies in both World War I and World War II....
See This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
In addition, they cooperated closely during the Cold War. Today, their relationship remains friendly and amicable.
England and the United States share a common language, English, and a common culture, including a dominant religion. For example, the United States is still predominately a Protestant country (even though it is becoming more religiously pluralistic), because England was a Protestant country.
Both are countries that have a long tradition of limiting the power of those at the top of the social and political pyramid. In England, it began with the Magna Carta, which asserted that everyone, even the king, was subject to the rule of law, and guaranteed the right to a fair trial. These ideas were later incorporated into the U.S. Constitution, where even our closest cognate to a king, the president, is still subject to the law and can be removed from office for breaking the law, and many hope this will continue to be the case.
Both countries have also shared the privilege of being one of the most powerful countries in the world. As powerful countries, both nations have exported and imposed their culture and ideals around the globe.
The British and the Americans had several things in common. The Americans were ruled by England as colonies for many years prior to the Revolutionary War. Once we got our independence from Great Britain, we modeled several important ideas after the British. Our system of government, while not identical, has similarities. Both countries elect their lawmakers. We modeled many of the ideas in the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution after British ideas. The concept of natural rights and the idea of a Bill of Rights come from the philosophy of John Locke and from the English Bill of Rights.
There are other similarities. Our judicial system has similarities. Both countries have courts and believe in the idea that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Our language is also similar. Both countries believe in free market economic principles. Both countries have fought against the spread of authoritarian governments. We have worked to also prevent the spread of communism. There are many similarities between the British and the Americans.