Question

how was the history of nationalism in britain unlike the best of europe

Answer 1

There was no British nationprior to the eighteenth century. 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.

Answer 2

Answer:

The history of nationalism in Britain was unlike the rest of Europe because:

In Britain, the formation of the nation-state was not the result of a sudden upheaval or revolution.

The primary identities of the people who inhabited the British Isles were ethnic ones - such as English, Welsh, Scot or Irish.

The English parliament, which had seized power from the monarchy in 1688 at the end of a protracted 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 resulted in the formation of the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain' meant that England was able to impose its influence on Scotland. Scotland's distinctive culture and political institutions were systematically suppressed.

The Scottish Highlanders were forbidden to speak their Gaelic language or wear their national dress and large numbers were forcibly driven out of their homeland.

The English helped the Protestants of Ireland to establish their dominance over a largely Catholic country. Catholic revolts against British dominance were suppressed. Ireland was forcibly incorporated into the United Kingdom in 1801.

The symbols of the new Britain - the British flag, the national anthem, the English language were actively promoted and the older nations survived only as subordinate partners in this union.