What was the reaction in Scotland to the Act of Union in 1707?
Activities Outline the Act of Union and list its key elements. In groups, pupils investigate the reasons behind the Act of Union. What were the benefits to the English? What were the benefits to Scots? Pupils present their findings on large posters. Ask pupils, in groups, to use selected ‘character cards’, eg Catholic Highlander, Presbyterian Lowland landowner, merchant/trader, to interpret the likely response of different characters to the Union. Ask groups to give oral presentations of their interpretations to the class. Reinforce through class teaching the pupils’ understanding of the differences in attitude towards England, and raise the question of whether the Union was secure. Outcomes describe the diversity within Scottish society in terms of religion, social rank, the Highland/Lowland divide, the urban/rural divide, and occupation • explain the likely diversity of response of different social groups to the key terms of the Act of Union through oral presentation Objectives about
