Linda Colley's Britons, addresses the challenging but important notion of national identity. In the book, Colley traces the construction of a British identity in the period between the Act of Union joining Scotland to England and Wales in 1707 and the formal beginning of the Victorian age in 1837. She intertwines the historical components of politics, military, culture and society to show how a British national identity was invented to entwine these three very different nations together. The formation of a British national identity was produced by a variety of catalysts that created an empire out of dissimilar nationalities and geographical differences that were embraced by the people of Britain.
Colley sees Britain's many wars with France in the eighteenth century as central catalysts in the forging of this British national identity. Colley argues that a British national identity was built around a very specific foundation of anti-Catholicism in response to the threats posed by Catholic France. Britain was one of few nations during this time period that was able to become successful champions of Protestantism in Europe, especially in opposition to France. France was Catholic and posed as a menace for Britain. This Catholic nation was seen as the enemy by Britons, out to inflict their practices and beliefs upon them.
France and Britain were also viewed as prime powers on sea and land and were therefore perceived as perils to each other. Even when these two nations were not engaged in actual combat during the 130 year long period, they plotted against and spied on one another. Their settlers and armed forces vied for space and supremacy in North America, the West Indies, Africa, Asia, and Europe. These wars were regarded by both sides as fundamentally religious in orientation, because the overall conflict between France and Britain was religious. Therefore, these wars played a crucial role in characterizing Britain.
