lit nm n <n-uniF<; The Not-So-United Kingdom A battle is raging over Scottish independence. Is this the beginning of the end of the United Kingdom? cotland has been part of Scottish writer and tour guide who Tensions between Scotland and the United Kingdom (U.K.) supports Scottish independence. England go back 2,000 years. In for more than 300 years. "We will turn back 300 years of 122 A.D., the Romans controlled That's long enough, if you history." most of Britain. But the Emperor Sask Euan Ingram, a senior at the Salmond, for his part, calls that Hadrian gave up on subduing the University of Glasgow. period of time 300 years of "sub• Scottish tribes of the north. He built "We want to strike out on our ordination"—or submission—to a 73-mile wall to keep the "barbar• own on the world stage," says England. England's people make ians" out of Roman Britain. (Much Ingram, a supporter of Scotland's up 84 percent of the U.K.'s popula• of the wall still exists today.) independence movement. "It's a tion of 63 million, compared with By the 11th century, Scotland's fallacy that we need England to Scotland's 8 percent. For centuries, battling tribes had come together survive. I don't buy that at all." political power in the U.K. has to form a kingdom. From the start, In January, Scotland's First Min• been centered in the majestic Par• England was Scotland's greatest ister, Alex Salmond, said that he liament buildings in London. rival, as it sought to gain control of wanted to hold a referendum in "I will fight with everything I its northern neighbor. 2014. The question he would ask: have to keep our United Kingdom In 1297, the Scottish hero "Do you agree that Scotland should together," says David Cameron, William Wallace, played by Mel be an independent country?" Prime Minister of the U.K. Gibson in the movie Braveheart, led The announcement set off a But that sentiment might not be one of the most famous rebellions political firestorm. Since 1707, enough. "The days of politicians in against English domination. Wal• Scotland has been part of the London telling Scotland what to do lace was considered so dangerous U.K.—today a country that and what to think ... are over," that after he was captured in 1305, includes England, Wales, and says Salmond. the English hanged, beheaded, Northern Ireland (see map). If Scot• disemboweled, and quartered the land were to secede, it could signal Long Memories rebel leader. the beginning of the end of the In Scotland, past battles and long In a place where memories are United Kingdom. memories are part of any struggle long, the proposed date of the ref• "It will be hugely historic if it for the future. Most battles have erendum also has historical happens," says Carolyn Mclntyre, a been with England (see Key Dates). continued on p. 12 + 10 JUNIOR SCHOLASTIC / MAY 14, 2012 A122 A.D. HADRIAN'S WALL A129? WILLIAM WALLACE SCOTLAND Emperor Hadrian orders the William Wallace (played by Mel building of a wall across Gibson in Braveheart) leads a AND ENGLAND: Roman Britain to keep rebellion against the English. the "barbaric" tribes of Wallace is later killed, but the KEY DATES Scotland out of England, fight is continued by Robert the northernmost part of the Bruce, leading to Scottish the Roman Empire. independence in 1328. symbolism. The year 2014 will be land's King James VI to also ascend Scots. Parliament in London has the 700th anniversary of the Battle to the English throne as James I. responded with "devolution," the of Bannockburn. In June 1314, Finally, in 1707, a bankrupt process of granting Scotland limited King Robert the Bruce led a vastly Scotland joined with England self-governing powers. outnumbered Scottish army to vic• under the Act of Union. Scotland's In 1999, for the first time since tory over the English. Fourteen Parliament was disbanded, and its 1707, members of a Scottish Parlia• years later, England recognized representatives took seats in a Par• ment took their seats in the capital Scotland's independence. liament of Great Britain in London. of Edinburgh. The new Parliament But Scotland's leaders also Even at the time, unifica• was given control over health, sought political and military alli• tion was widely denounced as a education, and transportation ances with England when they had betrayal. "We are bought and sold issues, while leaving foreign affairs, to. Members of the two royal fami• for English gold," the great Scottish defense, and taxation to London. lies even married each other. That poet Robert Burns wrote. The hope in London was that made it possible, in 1603, for Scot- this step would end calls for Scottish Identity independence. "Devolution will For centuries, many Scots kill nationalism stone dead," one WORDS TO KNOW have held on to a fiercely Scottish English politician said. identity: wearing kilts, playing Then last May, Alex Salmond's • Britain (n): the island of England, bagpipes, and flying the blue-and- Scottish National Party (SNP) Scotland, and Wales white Scottish flag rather than the shocked everyone by winning a • nationalism (n): a desire for British Union Jack. majority in the Scottish Parliament. independence among a people; a "The awareness of past inde• With the SNP in power, indepen• strong devotion to one's country pendence never quite faded," says dence again became a hot issue. • referendum (n): an occasion Scottish journalist Neal Ascherson. This has put Prime Minister when the people of a place vote In recent years, a sense of Cameron in a bind. Cameron's directly on a proposal nationalism has intensified among ancestors on his father's side are 12 JUNIOR SCHOLASTIC/MAY 14, 2012 A1586 A1603 JAMES 1707 GREAT BRITAIN 1999 PARLIAMENT A 2012 THE FUTURE? MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS James VI, King The Act of Union joins For the first time A young man waves Mary plots to overthrow her of Scotland England, Scotland, and since 1707, a Scottish the Scottish national cousin Queen Elizabeth I of and Mary's son Wales into a single Parliament assembles flag above Scotland's England, but the scheme is (pictured as an kingdom, Great Britain. in Edinburgh. It has Parliament building in foiled. The English find her infant with his In 1801, Ireland becomes limited powers but Edinburgh (near left). guilty of treason, and she's mother), is named part of the Union—now inspires a desire for beheaded in 1587. James I of England. called the United Kingdom. independence. Scottish. But breaking up the Union while Salmond, eager for time to Andrew Barr, a college student is an issue that "matters head, build support, is sticking with 2014. in Edinburgh, agrees with Salmond. heart, and soul" to him, Cameron "It's time for the people of Scotland said in a plea to the Scottish Par• The Biggest Decision to take their rightful place in the liament in February. "Our shared What do Scots think? In a global community as an equal and home is under threat." January poll, 39 percent backed independent nation," he says. While Cameron has reluctantly full independence. In a later To many in the U.K., the agreed to Scotland's referendum, he poll, a clear majority favored possible departure of Scotland is arguing with Salmond over what remaining in the U.K. but with raises a critical question: Would it will ask and when it will be held. much greater autonomy. the rest of the U.K. hold together? The Prime Minister would prefer Prime Minister Cameron contin• The breakup of an important a different question on the ballot, ues to believe that most Scots will Western power "could have a such as: "Do you want Scotland vote against leaving the U.K. "You huge impact on international to leave the United Kingdom?" He can be prouder of your Scottish her• politics," says Blaire Robertson, believes that wording might cause itage than your British heritage," he 18, a student at Scotland's some Scots to think twice about said recently, "and still believe that University of St. Andrews. abandoning their "shared home." Scotland is better off in Britain." Regardless of how they'll vote, Cameron also objects to a There are also many questions most Scots agree that the referen• second question that Salmond about how an independent Scot• dum is a big deal. proposes: In place of complete land could survive without the "This is the biggest decision independence, would Scottish vot• financial might of the U.K. that Scotland has had to face in ers want to stay in the U.K. with Still, Salmond insists that 300 years," says Grant Costello, substantial new powers for the Scotland would be better off on its leader of the Scottish Youth Party. Scottish Parliament? own. For one thing, it could claim "It will affect the lives of everyone On top of all that, Cameron most of the valuable North Sea oil, in Scotland." ".vants the vote to be held soon, which is now in the U.K.'s hands. —Mary Harvey MAY 14, 2012 / JUNIOR SCHOLASTIC 13 14 APSFARfH WHAT'S IN A NAME? What's the difference between Great Britain and THE U.K the United Kingdom? The island of Great Britain consists of England, Scotland, and Wales. When you add Northern Ireland to the mix it becomes the United Kingdom. FAST FACTS AREA: 94,458 sq mi (U.S.: 3,717,796 sq mi) POPULATION: 63 million (U.S.: 312 million) WHO'S IN LINE? LANGUAGES: English; regional Prince Charles is next in line to be King of Britain, followed by William, his first son, languages, such as Scots, Welsh, then Harry, the younger son.