How the Scots… Concluded

Changing the direction of the World

I won’t do justice to all of the accomplishments that Herman has spelled out about which and what the Scots did for the modern world. Essentially, by the end of the 18th century, Kames, Hume, Reid Smith Robert Adam amongst some others had died. Although these great people would pass, their ideas would live on. The next generation, like artist Henry Raeburn and writer Walter Scott would carrying on the Scottish ideals of building and maintaining a strong sense of Scottish identity through education and art. Dugald Stewart would influence Europe and the English speaking world more than any other Scot before or after him with his work in political science and the era of “classical liberalism”.

Scotland would undergo drastic economic changes, particularly in the Highlands, that would lead to cultural destruction and re-invention The Highland Clearances that forced 1,000’s to emigrate (many to the US) were a result of Highland clan chiefs abandoning the loyalty based system they had always used for economic gain. Subsequently, this devastating event would eventually be the inspiration for the baronet-to be Walter Scott to pen novels like Waverly and Rob Roy which would romanticize the Highland identity, and that would ultimately come to be the epitome as Scottish identity; read kilts, bagpipes, clan names, etc.

In more practical matters, a serious of medical and scientific advancements would be made during this time as well. James Watt, perfected the steam engine, Joseph Black, chemist, along with his teacher William Cullen, would serve as the triangular base of the Scottish practical mind. Great accomplishments would ensue: Thomas Telford’s innovative bridge and canal building techniques would be tapped for the Panama Cana; John Hunter would coin the words “bicuspid, incisor and molar”; John Pringle’s ideas inspired more humane treatment of military wounded; James Hutton’s discoveries and publications would revolutionize geology (volcanic rock vs. sedimentary rock).

Finally, the colonizing of the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, parts of south east Asia and parts of Africa demonstrates the differences between the English and the Scottish contributions to the world order. Influential Scots to many to name without boring people would peacefully settle Canada and work out a dominion status that would appease the monarchy, the Native Americans and the residents who emigrated. The same is true for the governors, explorers and general of the outlaw colonies of Australia, the jungles of India and the deserts and deep heart of Africa, at the cultural “horrors” (as the Scots would see it) of gross inequalities (towards prisoners, aborigines, women, etc) and lack of education (as well as lack of religion: Christianity) where they would bring in the “common sense” of liberty with the structure of a gentle authority that would be provided to EVERYONE, regardless of class or status; their tool, once again, was education.

This wee nation, from the depths of junior partner status, would be the most literate and education nation by the middle 18th century and go on to make enormous contributions to the world. It is ironic that by the middle of the 20th century, which institutions of higher education waning in their influence and the entrepreneurial flare and drive diminished by the Oxfords and Cambridge’s of England major influence in economic and business affairs, that Scotland would once again become a junior partner. Recent struggles for home rule and attaining their own parliament are a sure sign that Scotland may once gain be trying to rise to the level of profundity that it once achieved.