Commonwealth

A commonwealth is a group of people or of groups with a common aim to improve themselves, help each other and share knowledge and resources.

The word can refer to several organisations:

• The Commonwealth of Nations, the countries linked with the United Kingdom usually speaking English
• The Commonwealth of Independent States was the collection of countries which were part of the Soviet Union

It is also part of the official name of some countries

• The Commonwealth of Australia

or part of the official name of some US states and territories

• The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• The Commonwealth of Virginia
• The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• The Commonwealth of Kentucky
• The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

In history the Commonwealth of England was the name of England between 1649 and 1660, when England had no king.