In Contrast to Wales, who easily united with the kingdom of Britain after centuries of cultural domination, Ireland resisted both the cultural and the military advances into their territory. They remained Catholic when Britain adopted Protestantism. Ireland remained in alliance with Great Britain, but were never part of the country – a separate status that became a full-on rebellion against British rule after the French Revolution.

On this day, January 1, in 1801, the Act of the Union united forcibly Ireland with Britain and Scotland. The act created a new flag – the Union Jack – and common Parliament in London.

Ireland saw the act as a direct threat to their sovereignty. While they got to retain their government, lawmaking powers were taken out of their hands. To keep the peace and suppress dissent Britain commissioned Sir Robert Peel, the secretary for Ireland, to supervise a security force. These came to be known as “Peelers,” or “Bobbies,” and eventually came to be called “Police.”