History

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The first form of government that the United Kingdom had was an absolute monarchy. Although it took a long time to change, the English eventually changed their government into a constitutional monarchy. The Magna Carta started this change by limiting the powers of the king, and starting the beginnings of Parliament. The United Kingdom's was formed in early May, 1707, when Britain (which contained Wales at the time), and Scotland formed a union, called the Kingdom of Great Britain. Ireland then joined the union in 1801, and the UK was renamed to be the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1922, the Irish Free State succeeded From the union, but Northern Ireland did not. This again renamed the union to be the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and is usually just shortened to the United Kingdom.





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