b - history and meaning of the union jack

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    B. History and Meaning of the Union Jack

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern

    Ireland uses as its national flag the Royal Banner

    commonly known as the Union Jack, or more properly

    Union Flag as it only becomes a jack when flown at sea.

    The Union Jack is a transnational flag full of historical

    significance. It is a fine expression of unity as well as

    diversity.

    The flag is actually three flags in one. It is made up from the England flag, the Scotland

    flag and the patron saint of Irelands flag. The emblems that appear on the Union Flag are

    the crosses of three patron saints.England is represented by the flag of St. George. In 1194 A.D.,

    Richard I of England introduced the cross of St. George, a red

    cross on a white ground, as the national flag of England.

    Scotland is represented by the flag of St. Andrew, a diagonal

    white cross on a blue background. When King James VI of Scotland became King James

    I of England, it was decided that the union of the two realms under one king should be

    represented symbolically by a new flag. On 12 th April 1606, the first flag of the union was

    created. The red cross of England was superimposed on the white cross of Scotland on

    the blue background of the Scottish Flag. A white border was

    added around the red cross for the reason of heraldry. Thisflag, however, was usually restricted to use at sea until the

    two kingdom of Scotland and England were officially united

    in 1707.

    Later another country, Ireland, was represented on the flag. Ireland is represented by the

    flag of St. Patrick, a diagonal red cross on a white background. The English established

    control over Ireland since the 12 th century; nevertheless, Ireland remained a separate

    country under the rule of the English and British monarch until the British Parliament

    passed the Act of Union of 1800. In 1801, King George III added the cross of St. Patrick

    to the Union Flag, to make the Union Jack we have today. The designer had to make sure

    that all the crosses could be recognized as individual flags aswell as being the same flag together. They did this by making the

    background of the white Scottish cross broader on one side of the

    Irish red than on the other. This meant that all the separate

    crosses could be seen and the Irish Cross had it original white background. When the

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    southern part of Ireland gained its dependence in 1921 and became the Irish Free State,

    no alteration was made to the flag.

    The formation of the Union Jack came about as a result of

    the progressive merging of the inhabitants of the British

    Isles under one throne. The Welsh dragon does not appear

    on the flag because when the first Union Flag was created

    in 1606, Wales was already united with England. Wales

    was conquered by England in the 13 th century. In 1536, under Henry III, the Act of Union

    joined England and Wales officially. Therefore, Wales is represented by the English flag

    instead of Welsh dragon.

    To sum up, both the name and the design of the British flag emphasize the very nature of

    the United Kingdom of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a union of nations. The

    countries comprising the UK are not inward-looking or isolated states with an insularmentality; together they constitute a powerful union that has spanned centuries. Recent

    devolution that gave Scotland its own Parliament and Wales its own Assembly has also

    highlighted the importance of individual national identities within the nation without

    affecting the essential unity of Great Britain. Recognition of, and respect for national

    identities are an essential ingredients for effective union. The Union Jack symbolizes all

    this: respect for individuality within a closely knit community.