How important is the Declaration of Arbroath..

[auld argonian]

With Tartan Day, which I assume is pretty much the American name for the day, approaching, I was wondering what importance the Declaration of Arbroath is held by Scots. We here have our Declaration of Independence which is very much a list of grievances followed by the announcement that we considered our allegiance to the British Crown to be over as a result of those grievances. In the educational system that I was in, they drew a more direct line from Magna Carta to the Declaration of Independence but Arbraoth is actually more of a model for the DoI than Magna Carta....I can only assume that it didn't get its due because the classes were pretty much the "highlights" as determined by the textbook company.

So we sort of look upon the DoI as a sacred document that set the whole thing on its course...is the DoA held in the same regard in Scotland? Does a reading of it give the average Scot goosebumps and make him stand a bit taller?

Best

AA

[ABG0819]

Unfortunately I can't speak to a Scottish citizens reaction to it but as a proud Scottish-American it certainly has that effect on me. I have only been able to read bits and pieces and certainly not in a full context but the bits that I have read give a a tingle in my spine.

Graham

[Highlander31]

There were two things the Declaration of Arbroath did. First, it put the people, and their will, above that of the king. The people were required to support the king as long as he defended their freedom. The minute the king chose a different course, the people were required to remove the king, and put in another who would preserve their freedom.

The second thing the Declaration of Arbroath stated was that mankind has a right to freedom and an obligation to defend it with one's life.

The writers of our Declaration of Independence were influenced by the Declaration of Arbroath. The second paragraph starts out,..."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."

Further in the second paragraph, it states,.." But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security...."

While I cannot speak for the Scots here, I can say those principles laid out in the Declaration of Arbroath changed how freedom was viewed far beyond the borders of Scotland.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As Highlander 31 has pointed out, there are great similarities between the Declaration of Arbraoth and the American Declaration of Independence. This is not only a philosophical similarity, but one that runs much deeper, with some passages using almost identical language to express common demands, beliefs, and asperations.

That said, as a document expressing the concept of an independent state or nation, the Declaration of Arbroath is very important as it challenges the then accepted idea of feudal rights, based solely on conquest, and replaces them with the prototype idea of rule by consent of the governed. This document, as much as any other, is probably one of the foundations of the modern concept of a state governed by some form of democratic action. That being the case, the Declaration of Arbroath is very important in terms of Scottish, as well as later global history.

[auld argonian]

Okay...having read it, I pretty much get it.

My question was directed to the native Scots on the forum and dealt with how they feel about it. How important is it to them...appreciate the other contributions but sot of looking for "primary source" material here...



Best

AA

[Bigkahuna]

"Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses............."

[Ancienne Alliance]

Anyone have the list of the people who signed it ?


Best,

Robert

[Jock Scot]

Okay...having read it, I pretty much get it.

My question was directed to the native Scots on the forum and dealt with how they feel about it. How important is it to them...appreciate the other contributions but sot of looking for "primary source" material here...



Best

AA

I rarely, if ever, think about it. When, on the rare occasion that I do, I marvel at the foresight of my ancestors. Is it relevant in any way today? Frankly, I have no idea.

[Paul Henry]

Anyone have the list of the people who signed it ?


Best,

Robert

Here are details of the seals

seals

[Stratherrick]

It certainly sends shivers down my spine!

To me, there are two things that stand out:

1. The whole telling the English to shove it bit. I don't mean that as an anti-English sentiment, more a recognition that it was time to remind them that, if they wanted another Bannockburn, then they should expect one if they fancied future forays north of the border!

2. The more important thing to me is the putting the monarch in position at the sufferance of the people. If the monarch messed up, he/she was out on their ear!

Slainte

Bruce