I’ve often thought of that myself. I think what they did was to keep their “serf” mentality when power transferred from the monarchy to the PM and Parliament. The lower classes were used to being “kept” by the state. The independence-spirited Englishmen went to America.
“I’ve often thought of that myself.”
I am glad I am not the only one! You put it succinctly when you said the “serf” mentality. I agree. You just don’t breed that out in a century.