Why was the UK created? | The Union of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland explained

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Why was the United Kingdom created?
How has it changed?

The United Kingdom we know today — officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — was formed in 1922 following the creation of the Irish Free State. But how did this union of nations begin? How many versions of the UK have existed? And how has it changed over the centuries?

In this video, we take you through the complete history of the UK’s formation — from centuries of conflict between England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, to the political unions that brought them together. Discover how dynastic marriages, wars, economic crises, religious divisions, and strategic necessity shaped one of the world’s most influential states.

We cover key milestones, including:

The Union of the Crowns (1603) – when James VI of Scotland became James I of England.

The Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1639–1653) and Cromwell’s Commonwealth.

The Acts of Union 1707 – merging England and Scotland into Great Britain.

The Acts of Union 1800 – incorporating Ireland and creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The Irish War of Independence and the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, leading to the partition of Ireland.

The modern challenges of Home Rule, Scottish independence, Welsh nationalism, and Northern Ireland’s future.

By exploring both the political motives and social consequences of these unions, this video explains how the UK was shaped — and what its history means for its future.

📌 Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction
0:27 – Scotland and England: centuries of war
1:40 – The Union of the Crowns (1603)
3:54 – Great Britain - Union 1707
6:30 – United Kingdom - Union 1800
8:26 – Disunion in Ireland
9:37 – Modern independence movements
11:20 – Final thoughts

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