United Kingdom

In this course, I learned about the culture of other countries, namely England states. Similarly, the Indonesian flag, the Red and White, Flag of England also has a meaning and history in it. Based on the information I get from various sources;
and that will be discussed as follows
1. why is the other name of flag union is union jack ?
2. whay were the crosses name St. Andrew, St. Patrick and St. George? Are those the name’s of important figures of people ?
3. why it was only northern Ireland join in England ?

History of Union jack


British Flag Union Jack was first introduced in 1606, known simply as "the British flag". The first step taken in the creation of the flag of the British Empire was on April 12, 1606. When King James VI of Scotland became King of England (King James I) decided that the unification of the two areas under one king should be represented symbolically by a new flag. However, the flag is often restricted for use at sea until the two kingdoms of Scotland and England were united in 1707. Most likely from the use of this sea that has the name "Jack" ( "Union Jack"). Usually flown at the bow end, jack staff.
The first use of the name 'Union' appears in 1625. There are various theories to be known as 'Union Jack', but most evidence points to a name derived from the use of the word 'jack' as a child. For several years, the flag is only called 'Jack', or 'Jack flag, or "King Jack", but by 1674, while officially called a "Jack Lord", commonly called the Union Jack, and officially recognized.
Union jack flag had existed for more than a hundred and fifty years before the jack staff came into existence, and his name is associated with the size of the position in which he flew. It is often stated that "The Union Flag" can only be described as the Union Jack when flown from a warship, but this is a relatively new idea. From early in the life of the Navy itself is often referred to as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that their Lordships had decided that both names could be used officially. Use given the approval of Parliament in 1908 when he declared that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the national flag".
Flag continued to be used in its original form until January 1, 1801. At that time, the unity of Ireland and the United Kingdom, it becomes necessary to represent Ireland in the Union Flag so that the cross of St. Patrick, including creating in 1921 and became the Irish Free State there are no changes made to the Union's name "Union Jack" became official when it was approved in parliament in 1908. Stating that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the national flag".
http://www.flaginstitute.org/index.php?location=7.1
II .A. St.Patrick
Patrick was born in Kilpatrick, Scotland (other accounts say somewhere in England or Wales), in the year 387 (or 371 by other accounts). He lived a remarkably long life; some sources say he was 73 when he died, others say he was 106, and yet other accounts age him to 122! St.patrick why is closely related to the flag, The red saltire on a white ground probably comes from the Duke of Leinster's coat of arms.
As an honour to senior Irish peers, the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick was founded in 1783 by King George III. From that date, until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922, the official flag used to symbolise Ireland was a red saltire on white ground and known as St. Patrick's cross. The design was the heraldic arms of the highest-ranking member of the Irish aristocracy and founding member of the Order, the Duke of Leinster.
Whilst Patrick did much of his ministry in Ulster, he is a Catholic saint and therefore shunned by many Loyalists in Ulster. Rather than the St. Patrick's Cross, they prefer the Orange Cross.
http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/patrick.html

II. b . St. George
also called St. George's Cross and (King) George's Cross
St George was born sometime around the year 280 in what is now Turkey. He was a soldier and rose up through the ranks of the Roman army, eventually becoming a personal guard to the Emperor Diocletian. He was executed for being a Christian on April 23, 303, and is buried in the town of Lod in Israel.
Used as the English national flag, forming part of the Union flag, national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Saint George's cross was originally the flag of the maritime Republic of Genoa. Around 1190, King of England began to pay the Doge of Genoa to protect ships from the city of London and the UK are sailing in the Mediterranean.
This has become the official flag of England for centuries, but the Union Flag, the combination of St George's cross, St. Andrew's cross and St Patrick's cross, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. Now Saint George's cross was used as a national symbol by the fans of the English national soccer, rugby and cricket teams. In international matches, flags and scarves bearing the cross is worn and the people of paint on their faces. It also has a prominent place on the arm of the City of London and the flag of the city of Barcelona, Spain, and the state of Georgia.

III. C. St. Andrew
The Flag of Scotland, also known as the Saint Andrew's Cross or more commonly The Saltire, is the national flag of Scotland. As the national flag, the Saltire differs from the Royal Standard of Scotland in that it is the Saltire which is the correct flag for all individuals and corporate bodies to fly in order to demonstrate both their loyalty and Scottish nationality. It is also, where possible, flown from Scottish Government buildings every day from 8am until sunset, with certain exceptions.
Use of a simplified symbol associated with Saint Andrew which does not depict his image, namely the saltire, or crux decussata, (from the Latin crux, 'cross', and decussis, 'having the shape of the Roman numeral X'), has its origins in the late 14th century; the Parliament of Scotland decreed in 1385 that Scottish soldiers wear a white Saint Andrew's Cross on their person, both in front and behind, for the purpose of identification.
The legend surrounding Scotland's association with the Saint Andrew's Cross dates from a 9th century battle, where Óengus II led a combined force of Picts and Scots to victory over the Angles, led by Æthelstan. Consisting of a blue background over which is placed a white representation of an X-shaped cross, the Saltire is one of Scotland's most recognisable symbols.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Scotland


III. Northern Ireland
Northen Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west. At the time of the 2001 UK Census, its population was 1,685,000, constituting about 30% of the island's total population and about 3% of the population of the United Kingdom.
A long time ago, Ireland was more or less forced to become a part of the United Kingdom. While it remain under British rule, England encouraged people from England and Scotland to move to Ireland to boost the number of people living there that were loyal to the crown. Most of these people were Protestant and most Native Irish people were still Catholic. The majority of these new people (Protestants) lived in the Northern part of the country. When Ireland won its independence, the northern Protestants feared being a part of an independent Ireland because they would then be in the minority and feared they would be mistreated. Because of this, they protested Ireland's freedom and the solution that was decided upon by the English government was to allow the Northern portion of the country to remain part of the United Kingdom and grant freedom to the rest of the country.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Ireland