A Disunited Kingdom?

When did the United Kingdom come into being? What were the steps which led to its conception? Was the creation of the United Kingdom a symptom of national coherence or of disunity between the countries that made up the union? Did a new national identity come into being after 1801 or did old allegiances and loyalties become more deeply embedded? Is the eventual breakup of the re-constituted United Kingdom inevitable? In seeking answers to these questions and explaining how the United Kingdom has evolved the author explores a number of key themes including:the steps to political unioneconomic change religion education social welfare war and national identity.