Abstract

During the mid-18th century to the early 19th century in Scotland, Highland cultural symbols such as the Kilt, Tartan, and bagpipes came to be symbols of Scottish national identity. This process, called Highlandism, came to represent a form of Scottish Nationalism. Highlandism was started by the Highland Regiments, who wore the Kilt and Tartan with their uniforms. Robert Burns, the national bard of Scotland, also promoted Highlandism with his sympathetic and egalitarian views of the Highlanders. Finally, the great Scottish Romantic novelist Sir Walter Scott cemented Highlandism with his Romantic stories of the Highlands while bringing it to the physical sphere by infusing Highland imagery in George IV’s visit to Scotland in 1822. This was an ‘invention of tradition’ by the Scots who wanted to maintain cultural independence within the United Kingdom.

Advisor

Roche, Jeff

Department

History

Disciplines

Cultural History | European History

Keywords

Britain, Scotland

Publication Date

2020

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2020 Isaiah Corso-Phinney