How is Culloden and Prince Charles looked on and taught in Scotland?

[Jack Daw]

Sir Daniel and Jack Daw,

I agree that we have too much history to teach in a small time frame ourselves as Americans. We Just get the basics but its scary how little people know about important things. You see it all the time on Leno and Letterman, when they ask questions to passersby about history.

As far as learning why things happen that is high school and college level stuff. Everything before that is usually just dates and names. And we all usually have our family stories of why our ancestors came to America which can't be put in a book or class.

Having access to native Scots and people in other countries I find it interesting what they learn about subjects, be it our History or their own.

Thanks,

Darin

The details and differing POVs of history are available for those that want to learn it. Grousing that the common man on the street doesn't know his history is like a physician complaining that the regular Joe doesn't know the difference between a virus and bacteria.

[macwilkin]

The details and differing POVs of history are available for those that want to learn it. Grousing that the common man on the street doesn't know his history is like a physician complaining that the regular Joe doesn't know the difference between a virus and bacteria.

That is easy to say, but from my perspective as a history teacher, when your students do not have the basic knowledge for an entry-level survey class in American history, it makes it very difficult to teach a more expanded view of the subject.

T.

[macwilkin]

I remember little or nothing beyond mention of the Boston Tea Party being taught about the American Revolution. There was something about General Wolfe and Quebec but this was earlier and nothing to do with the revolution.

Wolfe & Quebec actually have quite a bit to do with the Revolution, since the Seven Years/French & Indian Wars were indirectly responsible for it. Without going into one of my lectures, in 1763, with the defeat of the French, and the end of New France, the British government expected the colonists to pay for the war, at which the colonial assemblies balked. Add to the fact that Britain had promised her Indian allies that their lands west of the Appalachians would be protected from further settlement (tell that to the Scots-Irish), and the stage was set for the "unpleasantness" between the North American colonies and Britain.

Parliament saw nothing unreasonable about the Americans paying for the army and navy that had been defending them from the French, Spanish and their Indian allies since the late 1600s, and the American assemblies jealously guarded their right to raise revenues (even though the average Briton paid twice as much in taxes as an American colonist). Add to that the debate over who was supreme in power -- colonial assemblies or parliament, and there you have the spark that started the forest fire in 1775.

Regards,

Todd

[McMathTX]

My great grandfather's great grandfather fought at Culloden and, I suppose because of his youth, he was transported to America rather than executed. I don't know the details.

Although I don't know the exact details, the family story is that my 6-times grandfather was apparently "invited" to leave Scotland after Culloden as well. Due to a resultant oath upon him, he and my 5-times grandfather found themselves at odds over the American Revolution. Again, according to family legend, there was an emotional split between the father and son that never healed.
Dean

[Highland Logan]

My great grandfather's great grandfather fought at Culloden and, I suppose because of his youth, he was transported to America rather than executed. I don't know the details.

Although I don't know the exact details, the family story is that my 6-times grandfather was apparently "invited" to leave Scotland after Culloden as well.

What were their names? I have the book No Quarter Given where the vast majorty of those who faught are listed. It's the muster roll of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's Army. I might be able to tell you who the were under, and when they were captured.

Frank

[McMathTX]

What were their names? I have the book No Quarter Given where the vast majorty of those who faught are listed. It's the muster roll of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's Army. I might be able to tell you who the were under, and when they were captured.

Frank

Holy cow! I never dreamed that I'd find information like that because the Jacobite army was in such disarray at the end. As I said earlier, the father and son were not on good terms so I have no record of the father's first name. It may have been Joseph since that is a common family name. McMath/MacMath was his surname. Anything you could offer would be greatly appreciated!

Dean

[Highland Logan]

Holy cow! I never dreamed that I'd find information like that because the Jacobite army was in such disarray at the end. As I said earlier, the father and son were not on good terms so I have no record of the father's first name. It may have been Joseph since that is a common family name. McMath/MacMath was his surname. Anything you could offer would be greatly appreciated!

Dean

I have an Alexander MacMath of Aberdeen, who was taken prisoner, and fate unknown.. well till now. He was with Grante's Artillery. Here is some info on the book.

Frank

[BonnieT100]

Due to a resultant oath upon him, he and my 5-times grandfather found themselves at odds over the American Revolution. Again, according to family legend, there was an emotional split between the father and son that never healed.
Dean

I think there might have been a lot of that going on then. There is a small town near my house in NC called Lillington. Near there, 11 Scots were hanged because they refused to join the Patriots. This was due to an oath they took to never again bear arms against England. By staying true to their word, they were seen as traitors.

I spent a year and a half in a British school in the early '90s. This was my freshman and sophomore years of high school. The history we learned was all industrial revolution. This may have been due to the location of the school, being located in the Midlands - between Oxford and Birmingham. I was kind of upset really - in a country with such a long history, I was looking forward to learning stuff that pre-dated the colonial period.

[Jock Scot]

Ask away Darin.Sensible and searching questions should be encouraged and I very much hope that you make it to Scotland before long.It is interesting that the 3 Scots(plus Pleater who may be a Scot?) that have answered your question,in their own way,all more or less agree!

[Pleater]

I think I have to have some Northern blood - the sound of bagpipes makes my blood fizz and I feel I need to do something that involves jumping up and down and shouting a lot, and maybe hitting things too.

I am also a natural engineer - the sort who wanders over to a group of people scratching their heads over something not working, glances at it and says - 'Should this bit be hanging off?' then gives it a poke and it starts up. It doesn't endear me to the professionals.

If that doesn't make me Scottish I don't know what would.