economic opportunities and prosperity, diminishing the success that home rule movements
would have.
In conclusion, the Scottish and Welsh home rule movements did not come into
fruition due to several overlapping factors. The essential reason for failure was because
there was not a large enough demand within the two nations to enable for any real political
change. The comparisons made to Ireland throughout have been vital, as the Union
ultimately did not benefit Ireland as it did for Scotland and Wales. The Irish were subjected
to religious and political persecution, along with the vast majority being economically
exploited from the Union. In contrast, religion had caused little tension, and in some regard
strengthened the union between the two nations and England. Politics was more flexible,
making home rule irrelevant, and both nations stood to gain economically from participating
in the Empire. While these factors applied in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries,
they almost certainly would not have the same impact today.
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