5.2: The Rise of the Prime Minister and Rebellions

The Prime Minister

The Rise of the Prime Minister

When Queen Anne died in 1714, Parliament chose George I, a German relative of Anne, as the next king because he was the nearest Protestant heir. His selection led to an unsuccessful attempt by Scottish Jacobites to place James II’s son on the throne, but this was quickly defeated.

Since George I did not speak English fluently, he relied heavily on his ministers to manage the country’s affairs. The most important minister in Parliament became known as the Prime Minister. The first person to hold this title was Sir Robert Walpole, who served as Prime Minister from 1721 to 1742.

The Rebellion of the Clans

The Jacobite Rebellion of 1745

In 1745, another attempt was made to restore a Stuart king to the throne, this time in place of George I’s son, George II. Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, the grandson of James II, landed in Scotland and raised an army with the support of clansmen from the Scottish Highlands. Although Charles initially experienced some success, his forces were ultimately defeated by George II’s army at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Following his defeat, Charles fled back to Europe.

The Decline of the Clans

The defeat at Culloden significantly reduced the power and influence of the Scottish clans. The chieftains who were favoured by the English king became landlords, while the clansmen were turned into tenants who had to pay rent for the land they used.

This period saw the beginning of the Highland Clearances, during which many Scottish landlords evicted small farmers (known as crofts) to make room for large flocks of sheep and cattle. These evictions became especially widespread in the early 19th century, leading many Scots to emigrate to North America.

Robert Burns (1759–96)

Scotland’s National Poet

Robert Burns, often called ‘The Bard’ in Scotland, was a renowned Scottish poet who wrote in a combination of the Scots language, English with Scottish words, and standard English. He also revised many traditional folk songs by adding or changing lyrics. Burns’ most famous work is perhaps the song Auld Lang Syne, which is traditionally sung to celebrate New Year’s Eve (or Hogmanay in Scotland) and is widely recognised around the world.