Document Type
Senior Thesis
Publication Date
1-2025
Abstract
Scottish culture has long often been associated with barbaric clans and whiskey; however, there is much more to this culture than meets the eye. After centuries of oppression and pushback on expressing cultural aspects of Scottish identity post the Union of the Crowns in 1603, Scotland has now emerged as a leader in re-establishing its culture and protecting it as well. This paper will aim to analyze how Scotland's cultural pride over time has changed and how this uptick in pride has also led to a political movement for independence. I argue that the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden, the repression of Scottish culture, has been used as a narrative for the modern independence movement in Scotland. This paper is essential for understanding the intersection of culture and politics and how all aspects of culture, such as language, dress, and food, can shape political movements. Previous research has analyzed the natural heritage and symbols of each ethnic group in the United Kingdom, finding differences between English and Scottish views. Past research has also examined how the persecution of the native language of Scottish Gaelic and Highland dress has influenced devolution and increasing referendums in the country. There will also be a focus on the historical oppression faced by Scottish people in the Highlands, also known as Highlanders, after the Battle of Culloden in 1746. This paper will focus on the case study of the 2014 referendum and look into the complexities of the political and social context of that time for Scotland. I have used secondary sources to analyze these two events and primary sources of excerpts of the battle and political movement utilizing the National Archives of Scotland. Understanding the historical importance of the events that occurred after this battle will be used as a context for the 2014 political movement for independence.
Recommended Citation
Walker, Emma, "“We Aren’t Dying Yet, but We’re on the Hospital Bed.” An Analysis of Scottish Culture and Desire for Independence" (2025). Honors Papers and Posters. 12.
https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/honors_student_work/12
Copyright
The author
Included in
Cultural History Commons, European History Commons, European Languages and Societies Commons, Other History Commons, Other Political Science Commons, Political History Commons, Public History Commons, Social History Commons