When the United Kingdom come into being? What were the steps that led to its conception? Was the creation of the United Kingdom a symptom of national coherence or of disunity, among 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 reconstituted United Kingdom inevitable? In seeking answers to these questions, the author explores a number of key themes including: the steps to political union, economic change, religion, education, social welfare, war and national identity.