Similar to the way America grew by adding territory after territory to the union of states, England grew by absorbing the nearby smaller lands. Wales and Cornwall joined in the mid-16th century, largely on their own volition, as the nations had much the same culture and an extensive trade network. Scotland joined by 1707, but still kept their own parliament, as did the first two countries. The union now complete, it was time to make a common parliament of the four.

On this day, October 23, in 1707, the first united Parliament of Great Britain, now including Ireland and Wales, met in Westminster.

There was no mistaking which of the formerly separate countries was in charge. In the House of Commons, 450 MPs were from Britain, compared to slightly more than 20 for Wales and 45 for Scotland.