The identity of the Nation exists as a belief about our shared history.

Americans believe that they won their Independence from the British through conflict but the truth is that a certain political party among the British called the Whigs were pro-American because Americans were attempting to implement a Whig nation. This is similar to how the socialists in USA were against Vietnam war because Vietnam was trying to implement socialism. So some british generals like General Howe who was a Whig, let the Americans win their independence.

By 1890s the British empire, already knew it wouldn’t last. People like milners kindergarten planned to create the commonwealth and give independence to nations like India as early as 1911. But they had to train Indians in governance and then the world wars happened so indian independence was delayed until 1947.

It suffices to say most nations have a history like this. They tell themselves a myth of how they had to win fights that never happened with the same intensity as the myth.