British Online Archives

The 1707 Acts of Union united the Scottish and English Parliaments to form the Parliament of Great Britain in the Palace of Westminster. Thenceforth Scottish citizens have debated the viability of an independent Scotland.

Documents in this collection contain a wealth of information on the subject of Scottish independence, including: the effect on international relations; financial policy proposals; pamphlets from the Scottish National Party; and the revival of Scottish cultural independence.

This collection charts the growth of Scottish nationalism, and subsequent calls for independence, from the mid-nineteenth to the late twentieth century. This is an excellent resource for those interested in studying the history of what is set to be a dominant political movement in the twenty-first century.

Scotland’s beautiful land still remains a rich asset awaiting the day when the Scottish people recover the inheritance of which they have been defrauded.

Scotlandshire by Oliver Brown, 1945, page 29

Insights

Critiques of the British Parliament include accusations that Scotland was not benefiting equitably from government spending. Consequently it was claimed that Scotland was not treated as an equal partner in the Union.

This collection contains pamphlets authored by influential Scots: Archie Lamont, Oliver Brown, Robert Gayre, Hugh MacDiarmid, William Mitchell, and Douglas Young. Pamphlets were published from the mid-nineteenth century to the late-twentieth century.

Documents in this collection explore how an independent Scotland might be able to function. They discuss oil, industry, and blueprints for self-government.

This collection contains a wealth of cultural material, including “Rebel Songbooks” and Scottish literature. “The Culture of the Scots: its Past and Future, 1943” was written by William Power. Power was an author, journalist, and leader of the Scottish National Party from 1940 to 1942.