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.