question_answer

  Describe in brief the process by which the British nation came into existence.

Answer:

  There was no British nation before the eighteenth century. Different ethnic groups of people were there in the British Isles, such as English, Welsh, Scot or Irish. Each of these ethnic groups had its own cultural and political traditions. The British Parliament became the Chief instrument to curb the power of the monarchy in 1688 through a bloodless revolution. The Act of Union (1707) between England and Scotland formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain. With the advent of English power, the English removed the cultural, political institutions of Scotland forcefully and the Scots were banned from speaking the Gaelic language and put on their national dress. The English with the help of the Protestants suppressed the Catholics of Ireland and forcibly united Ireland with the United Kingdom in 1801. Scotland and Ireland become the subordinate partners of the United Kingdom. The symbols of the new Britain-the National Flag (Union Jack), the National Anthem (God Save our Noble King) and the English language were actively promoted.                                                                                                    (5)