The concept of a nation-state is complex, particularly in Great Britain, where its emergence did not stem from a sudden revolution but evolved over a prolonged period. Prior to the 18th century, British identities were primarily ethnic, including distinct groups such as the English, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish, each possessing unique cultural and political traditions. However, as England's power grew, it extended its influence throughout the British Isles. Following the power seizure from the monarchy in 1688, the English Parliament emerged as a central figure in forging a unified nation-state, particularly with the Act of Union in 1707 that combined England and Scotland into the UK. Consequently, this shift marginalized Scottish culture and led to the suppression of Scottish Highlanders' customs, including language and traditional dress. Similarly, Ireland faced cultural domination, wherein Protestant factions, supported by the English, overshadowed the Catholic majority, leading to Catholic revolts that were subdued, culminating in a formal incorporation into the UK in 1801. The de-emphasis on distinct cultures in favor of a dominant English one gave rise to a 'British nation,' characterized by symbols like the Union Jack and an enforced English language, thus promoting a homogenized national identity that treated other ethnic groups as subordinate partners within the union.