Scots & 250 Years of Founding American Independence

 

The general ignorance of Scots history and contributions worldwide. How many Scots have heard of the “Scottish Enlightenment” – or have any idea what it was about? I’d guess only a few Scots have any idea at all. I’d never heard of the Scottish enlightenment until I attended at talk by historian Tom Devine. And I studied for higher History at school – which was all English history. 

 

Ian Houston from Global Scots network - discussed the direct part Scots played in the foundations of American independence. The linkages and the connections. 

 

Many Key Philosophical ideas came from the Scottish Enlightenment from 1740s onward and - " The social contract that government derives its power from the consent of the governed." 

Declaration of Arbroath 1320

And from the Declaration of Arbroath 1320. Professor Small was teaching in Virginia, and one of the pupils was Thomas Jefferson, one of America's founding fathers. While Benjamin Franklin visited Scotland and met the Scottish philosophers – David Hume and Adam Smith.

There are many opportunities for modern Scotland – with its progressive universities and social enterprise. To embrace opportunities, to be aspirational. 

Houston said there is lots to be celebrated and all the diversity that exists in Scotland. He also said there ’has also been difficulties over the years in America with – the Bill of Rights, civil war, slavery.

 

https://www.globalscot.com/