American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) represented a complex period for Scotland as part of the United Kingdom, where sympathies were nuanced and divided. Scots played roles on both sides of the conflict, with some enlisting with British forces, reflecting Scotland’s incorporation into the United Kingdom following the 1707 Acts of Union, and a commitment to suppress rebellious colonies. However, many Scots, driven by a desire for independence and frustrated by economic constraints imposed by London, empathized with the American Patriots’ quest for freedom and self-governance, leading some to fight for the American cause or advocate for American interests. The ideological underpinnings of the revolution resonated with Scottish Enlightenment thinking, foregrounding principles of liberty, equality, and constitutional governance, thereby influencing political thought in Scotland and reinforcing desires for political reform and autonomy within the union.