With the attacks on London today, it got me thinking.  Are the British closer to Americans or Europeans?

For one, it was mostly British people who colonized what we now know as the United States of America.  It is the British who Americans politically identify the most with in Europe.  It is English that we mostly speak here in America.  It is the english method we use instead of the metric system.  It it Britain who has been our best ally in the war on terror and who has stood beside America the most.  It is Americans and the British who recieve most of the attacks from people in France and other european countries.  Britain is also one of the only nations in europe not using the euro.

But, the British identify more with Europe politically.  Britain has joined the EU.  Britain has a national healthcare system just like all of developed europe.  Britain's laws mostly resemble europe.  And most opinion polls show that the majority of British identify themselves more with Europeans then with Americans.

So what do you think?

Language alone makes us much much closer to the Americans, as does our mutual "World Leaders" status.

We are far more similar to The United States than we are to the rest of Europe.

I made the move from England to the United States about a month ago, and to be honest, it really isn't all that different.

I have been to several European countries however and they are very different. I have been to parts of rural France and large built up areas of France and found totally different attitudes and ideals.

One point that a lot of people overlook is that America and Great Britain are two of the few nations were property ownership is more important than any other sort of Economic Ideal.

For instance in France, the majority of people tend to rent, it's the same in a lot of other European Nations.

An interesting question, GWB, and I have no idea.  Certainly we are divided by a common language (once housed a brit teen from, I think Kent? and couldn't understand a word that she said).  I'd be interested to know how the Brits feel about this one.

I think we come across as a curious hybrid of the two...

We certainly embrace a lot of European ideals as well as American (see lists above)...we're also closer to America in our 'free-market economy' stance - which is what we're trying to 'sell' to the rest of the EU (most of whom stick to the traditional 'socialist' motives...commendable, but it's gotta adapt with the times...)

It depends on age - I suppose the next generation down from me would happily call themselves 'Europeans' - but I still class myself as English (then British)...

I'd probably be called 'jingoistic' by some people for that...!!

Hmm, a difficult question. I feel like the US are our friends & allies (like it or not), and that many European countries have a grudge against us. I feel reluctant for the UK to have greater economic & legislative links with the European Community, as I feel these will be used by countries who have a problem with us to undermine our economy & power to rule ourselves.

I can't forgive the fact that the EEC/EU Fisheries Policy has allowed French, Spanish & Portugese fishermen to empty the seas around Britain of native fish by taking them before they've spawned, when the UK had imposed far stricter regulations on our own fishermen to protect stocks; this is just one instance where membership of a European "community" has caused UK to lose out. Obviously there are disadvantages to our 'special relationship' with the US too, some of which we're currently experiencing the extreme end of; basing things on geography, we should have a closer relationship with Europe, but currently that feels like a nest of vipers. I definitely think the US is our 'best friend' at the moment, but I feel as a nation, we stand alone- I personally don't like the prospect of getting any 'closer' to either parties, but realise isolationism isn't a realistic policy in this day & age.

It's like the US is an older step-brother to us, sorta related & with mixed benefits; it feels like Europe's the gang of urchins on the street, who'd rough us up & nick all our stuff, before sort-of accepting us.

With the attacks on London today, it got me thinking.  Are the British closer to Americans or Europeans?
It is the english method we use instead of the metric system....hell even the English don't use the english system anymore.

So what do you think?


Actually, the British used British Standard and Whitworth while we used American, but that is splitting
hairs. The culture of the United States is a hybrid of British, with healthy doses of Spanish, and a beauty
mark of French(Louisiana).  Our unofficial language is a common bond, but our size and scope makes
it impossible to categorize us in one specific genre.  We are the kid at the barbecue who everyone tries
to figure out who his dad is, cause he looks a bit like all.

I love the above two euphemisms  ;D

I love the above two euphemisms  ;D

Not sure they're euphemisms, unless you think we are alluding to something more sinister! I'd say they were similies, but I may be wrong. I like GWB's comparison too.

Yes sorry wrong word - I am a graduate - honest.

Any attempt to ascribe a broad identity to a nation is futile, at best it's a sort of dinner party conversation for mild amusement.
I've been to many parts of the UK (my own country) and have found widely divergent opinions and cultures. Heck, I've found widely divergent opinions among my own friends and family. Every nation forms alliances with multiple partners, e.g. the UK has alliances and allegiances with both the USA and the EU. This is not inconsistent or indecisive, it's just that there is benefit to be gained (hopefully mutual) by each of those alliances. The same could be said of pretty much every nation on Earth.

Having said all that, I'm completely against the concept of the European Constitution (if it still has any life left in it as a proposal).
I really don't see the point or the benefit to anybody of this idea.

We are far more similar to The United States than we are to the rest of Europe.

I made the move from England to the United States about a month ago, and to be honest, it really isn't all that different.

I have been to several European countries however and they are very different. I have been to parts of rural France and large built up areas of France and found totally different attitudes and ideals.

One point that a lot of people overlook is that America and Great Britain are two of the few nations were property ownership is more important than any other sort of Economic Ideal.

For instance in France, the majority of people tend to rent, it's the same in a lot of other European Nations.

Welcome to the USA, Alcoholica!

I think the common language and the long-time allegience between the U.S. and Britain ties us more closely than either nation with the Europeans.  America started as a British colony.  Think of how close Canada and Australia remain to Britian.  The key difference is America had a revolution and won independence.  At the time of the American Revolution, more Americans than not would rather have stayed under the crown.  How history would have developed from there is all speculation.
America and Britain have some ties that we must acknowledge regarding current events.  The CIA-backed military coup in 1953 saved Britain's bacon in Iran.  The U.S. got 40% of Iranian oil revenues as part of that deal.  It was a bitter pill for the Brits to swallow, but it was a far better thing than having the popular Iranian government nationalize the whole kit and kaboodle.  Britain had already lost her great empire over the previous forty years.
Empire is another connection.  The United States is not an empire by government, but it is an empire by capital and by military force.  It is in the best position to act as an empire acts.  The Brits understand this and know their continued allegience with the U.S. is highly profitable.

Welcome to the USA, Alcoholica!

I think the common language and the long-time allegience between the U.S. and Britain ties us more closely than either nation with the Europeans.  America started as a British colony.  Think of how close Canada and Australia remain to Britian.  The key difference is America had a revolution and won independence.  At the time of the American Revolution, more Americans than not would rather have stayed under the crown.  How history would have developed from there is all speculation.
America and Britain have some ties that we must acknowledge regarding current events.  The CIA-backed military coup in 1953 saved Britain's bacon in Iran.  The U.S. got 40% of Iranian oil revenues as part of that deal.  It was a bitter pill for the Brits to swallow, but it was a far better thing than having the popular Iranian government nationalize the whole kit and kaboodle.  Britain had already lost her great empire over the previous forty years.
Empire is another connection.  The United States is not an empire by government, but it is an empire by capital and by military force.  It is in the best position to act as an empire acts.  The Brits understand this and know their continued allegience with the U.S. is highly profitable.


Well thank you.

I'd say you've hit the nail on the head with that one.

I imagine if the War of Independance hadn't been fought the U.S would be in a similar position to canada and Australia. Similar to the position that the U.S holds now actually.
Although i dare say that the country would look slightly different on a map.

At the the time of the American Revolution, more Americans than not would rather have stayed under the crown.  How history would have developed from there is all speculation.


There's a novel by Harry Turtledove which explores the idea of what the world would be like had the American Revolution never occurred and how America and the rest of the world would look if America was still under British rule today. It's not one of his best works and I disagreed with some of the concepts, particularly those that suggested that technological advancement would have all but ceased in the early 1800s, but the overall idea was rather intriguing.