. The primary identities of the peoplewho inhabited the British Isles were ethnic ones – such as English,Welsh, Scot or Irish. All of these ethnic groups had their own culturaland political traditions. But as the English nation steadily grew inwealth, importance and power, it was able to extend its influenceover the other nations of the islands. The English parliament, whichhad seized power from the monarchy in 1688 at the end of aprotracted conflict, was the instrument through which a nation-state,with England at its centre, came to be forged. The Act of Union(1707) between England and Scotland that resulted in the formationof the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain’ meant, in effect, thatEngland was able to impose its influence on Scotland. The Britishparliament was henceforth dominated by its English members. Thegrowth of a British identity meant that Scotland’s distinctive cultureand political institutions were systematically suppressed. The Catholicclans that inhabited the Scottish Highlands suffered terrible repressionwhenever they attempted to assert their independence. The ScottishHighlanders were forbidden to speak their Gaelic language orwear their national dress, and large numbers were forcibly drivenout of their homeland.Ireland suffered a similar fate. It was a country deeply dividedbetween Catholics and Protestants. The English helped the Protestantsof Ireland to establish their dominance over a largely Catholic country.Catholic revolts against British dominance were suppressed. After afailed revolt led by Wolfe Tone and his United Irishmen (1798),Ireland was forcibly incorporated into the United Kingdom in 1801.A new ‘British nation’ was forged through the propagation of adominant English culture. The symbols of the new Britain – theBritish flag (Union Jack), the national anthem (God Save Our NobleKing), the English language – were actively promoted and the oldernations survived only as subordinate partners in this union.New wordsEthnic – Relates to a common racial, tribal, orcultural origin or background that a communityidentifies with or claimsThe artist has portrayed Garibaldi as holding on to the base ofthe boot, so that the King of Sardinia-Piedmont can enter it fromthe top. Look at the map of Italy once more. What statement isthis caricature making?ActivityGiuseppe Garibaldi (1807-82) is perhaps themost celebrated of Italian freedom fighters. Hecame from a family engaged in coastal trade andwas a sailor in the merchant navy. In 1833 hemet Mazzini, joined the Young Italy movementand participated in a republican uprising inPiedmont in 1834. The uprising was suppressedand Garibaldi had to flee to South America, wherehe lived in exile till 1848. In 1854, he supportedVictor Emmanuel II in his efforts to unify theItalian states. In 1860, Garibaldi led the famousExpedition of the Thousand to South Italy. Freshvolunteers kept joining through the course ofthe campaign, till their numbers grew to about30,000. They were popularly known as RedShirts.In 1867, Garibaldi led an army of volunteers toRome to fight the last obstacle to the unificationof Italy, the Papal States where a French garrisonwas stationed. The Red Shirts proved to be nomatch for the combined French and Papal troops.It was only in 1870 when, during the war withPrussia, France withdrew its troops from Romethat the Papal States were finally joinedto Italy.Box 2F