the Scottish independence issue
#1967
Re: the Scottish independence issue
2 hours till kick off -it feels quite exciting.
#1970
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Before today I had no idea about Scottish empire ambitions, that there were a number of Scottish colonies in the Americas. The Darien Scheme (in Panama) being the crown jewel, that fell flat on its face, and partly helped towards acceptance of union a few years later. Fascinating all this history. Anyone else know about this, was I alone in my ignorance?
#1972
Dunroaming back in UK
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Expat in Yorkshire now
Posts: 11,274
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Before today I had no idea about Scottish empire ambitions, that there were a number of Scottish colonies in the Americas. The Darien Scheme (in Panama) being the crown jewel, that fell flat on its face, and partly helped towards acceptance of union a few years later. Fascinating all this history. Anyone else know about this, was I alone in my ignorance?
#1973
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Before today I had no idea about Scottish empire ambitions, that there were a number of Scottish colonies in the Americas. The Darien Scheme (in Panama) being the crown jewel, that fell flat on its face, and partly helped towards acceptance of union a few years later. Fascinating all this history. Anyone else know about this, was I alone in my ignorance?
#1976
Joined on April fools day
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: 30 miles from a decent grocery store.
Posts: 10,642
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Unsolicited prediction...55/45 NO.
#1978
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Before today I had no idea about Scottish empire ambitions, that there were a number of Scottish colonies in the Americas. The Darien Scheme (in Panama) being the crown jewel, that fell flat on its face, and partly helped towards acceptance of union a few years later. Fascinating all this history. Anyone else know about this, was I alone in my ignorance?
#1979
Re: the Scottish independence issue
A different interpretation is that the Scots were daft to even think of establishing a colony there because
a) Darien is extremely inhospitable; even today the Pan-American Highway does not cross the Darien Gap.
b) It was right slap-bang in the middle of Spanish America, and so Spanish hostility did far more to destroy the colony than English. (Note that the English colonies were almost all on the fringes of the areas the Spanish were active in.)
#1980
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Twitter is full of voter intimidation stories. Both sides are at it, but it seems slightly worse from the yes campaign. Graffiti outside polling stations warning of consequences for voting no, marches and parades outside polling stations, campaigning inside the polling stations themselves. Sigh.
As I said, whatever the result I'm not sure this is going to be pretty.
As I said, whatever the result I'm not sure this is going to be pretty.