Union facts for kids

A union is when two or more things come together to form one. This can be a group of people or organizations working together, or even different objects joined into a single item. The word "union" can mean many different things depending on how it's used.

What "Union" Means in Politics

In politics, "union" often refers to a group of states or countries that have joined together.

The United States Union

• The Union: This term often refers to the United States as a whole.
• The Union during the American Civil War: During the American Civil War, "the Union" meant the states that stayed loyal to the United States government and did not try to leave.
• Union Army: This was the name of the army that fought for the United States government during the Civil War.
• National Union Party: This was a political party in the United States during the 1864 election. It was a temporary name for the Republican Party.

Unions of Countries and Governments

• Act of Union: This refers to several laws passed by the English Parliament. One important Act of Union created the United Kingdom, which is a country made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• African Union: This is a group of countries in Africa that work together on important issues like peace and development.
• European Union: This is a large group of countries in Europe that work together on many things, like trade, laws, and travel.
• Union Government of India: The official name for the government of India is the "Union Government."
• Personal union: This happens when two or more separate countries share the same king or queen, but they are still independent.
• Political union: This is a type of country made up of smaller states that have joined together more closely, like the United States.
• Real union: This is a step between a personal union and a full political union, where countries share a monarch and also some government institutions.
• Soviet Union: This was a very large country that existed from 1922 to 1991, made up of many smaller republics. Its full name was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
• State of the Union Address: This is an important speech given once a year by the President of the United States. In this speech, the president talks about how the country is doing.
• The Union (l'Unione) : This was a group of political parties in Italy that worked together in the 2000s.
• Unionist Party (Canada): This was a political party in Canada that was in power during World War I.

Trade Unions

• Trade union: Also called a labor union, this is an organization of workers who join together to protect their rights and improve their working conditions, like getting better pay or safer workplaces.

Unions in Sports and Entertainment

The word "union" is also used in the world of sports and fun!

Sports Teams

• Unión de Santa Fe: A professional football (soccer) club from Argentina.
• R. Union Saint-Gilloise: A professional football (soccer) club from Belgium.
• Club Atlético Unión de Sunchales: A lower-league football (soccer) club from Argentina.
• Unión Magdalena: A professional football (soccer) club from Colombia.
• The Union: In professional wrestling, this was a group of wrestlers who worked together against another wrestler named Vince McMahon.
• The Union: This is the name for the supporters' club of the Melbourne Victory football (soccer) team in Australia.
• Rugby Union: This is one of the two main types of rugby football.

Music and Comics

• Union (album): This is the name of a music album released in 1991 by the band Yes.
• Union (band): This is the name of an American heavy metal band.
• Union (comic): This is a comic book story set in the Star Wars universe.
• Union (comics): This is a character that appears in comic books published by Wildstorm.
• "Union": This is a song by the band Avail from their album One Wrench.
• "Union": This is also a song by the Black Eyed Peas from their album Monkey Business.

Unions in Education

In education, "student union" can mean two different things.

Student Organizations and Buildings

• Students' union: This is an organization run by students at many colleges and universities. Its main job is to represent students and help them with their needs. In the United States, these groups are often called "student government" or "student senate."
• Student activity center: This is a building on a college campus. It often has many services for students, like places to eat, health services, and lounges where students can relax. In the United States, when people say "student union," they often mean this building.

Colleges and Schools with "Union" in Their Name

• Union College: A college located in Schenectady, New York.
• Union College (Kentucky): A college located in Kentucky.
• Union Institute & University: An educational institution that offers non-traditional learning programs.
• Union Public Schools: A public school system in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• Union Theological College: A college located in Northern Ireland.
• Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York: A Christian seminary in New York City.
• Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education: A Christian seminary in Richmond, Virginia.
• Union University: A Baptist college located in Tennessee.

Unions in Transportation

"Union" can also refer to things in transportation.

• Union Railroad: This name has been used by several different railroad companies.
• Union (ship): This was the name of a ship that sank near Fiji in 1804.

Unions in Trades and Building

In trades, "union" can describe parts that join things together.

• Union (electrical): Sometimes used for a butt connector, which is a small part used to join electrical wires together.
• Union (hardware): Sometimes used for a standoff, which is a part that helps separate or join other parts, like an elongated nut.
• Union (plumbing): A special pipe fitting that allows two pipes to be joined and easily taken apart again without twisting the pipes.

Unions in Money (Numismatics)

• Union (coinage): This was the name for a very large gold coin that the United States planned to make. It would have been worth $100, but it was never actually made for people to use.

Unions in Math and Computers

In math and computer science, "union" has specific meanings.

• Union (set theory): In math, the union of two sets is a new set that contains all the elements from both original sets.
• Union (SQL): In computer programming for databases, "UNION" is an operator that combines the results of two different searches into one list.
• Union (computer science): In computer programming, a union is a special way to store different types of data in the same memory spot.
• Union mount: This is a way for computers to make several separate folders look like one single folder.

People with the Surname "Union"

• Gabrielle Union: An American actress who has starred in many movies and TV shows.