Constitutional radicalism in Scotland and Ireland in the era of the American Revolution c.1760-1789
The main objective of this body of work is to define and delineate radical activity in Scotland and Ireland c. 1760-1789 and through this to assess the nature and construction of the contemporary British identity. In their various campaigns Scottish and Irish radicals held the restoration of the lustre of the British constitutional system and the promotion of integrity and propriety in the British state as both motives for, and objectives of, their actions. These radicals sought a restoration of what they perceived to be the post-Glorious Revolution constitutional system. Their actions and writings were based on the premise that the propriety of the British constitution had been compromised by Westminister in the years after 1691. Following a near seventy year long gestation period, Scottish and Irish constitutional grievances were galvanised in the years after the end of the Seven Years' War by the North American colonial challenge to Westminster's constitutional vision. Scotsmen and Irishmen impugned the civil, ecclesiastical and political constitution which had been imposed upon them. Each campaign was an assertion of contemporaneous perceptions of the rights of Britons, or perhaps more accurately an assessment
Vance, James
Irish radicals; Scottish radicals; Constitution
Constitutional radicalism in Scotland and Ireland in the era of the American Revolution c.1760-1789. The main objective of this body of work is to define and delineate radical activity in Scotland and Ireland c. 1760-1789 and through this to assess the nature and construction of the contemporary British identity. In their various campaigns Scottish and Irish radicals held the restoration of the lustre of the British constitutional system and the promotion of integrity and propriety in the British state as both motives for, and objectives of, their actions. These radicals sought a restoration of what they perceived to be the post-Glorious Revolution constitutional system. Their actions and writings were based on the premise that the propriety of the British constitution had been compromised by Westminister in the years after 1691. Following a near seventy year long gestation period, Scottish and Irish constitutional grievances were galvanised in the years after the end of the Seven Years' War by the North American colonial challenge to Westminster's constitutional vision. Scotsmen and Irishmen impugned the civil, ecclesiastical and political constitution which had been imposed upon them. Each campaign was an assertion of contemporaneous perceptions of the rights of Britons, or perhaps more accurately an assessment
constitutional radicalism scotland_ireland era american revolution main_objective body_work define delineate radical activity scotland_ireland assess nature construction contemporary british identity various campaign scottish irish radical hold restoration british constitutional system promotion integrity british_state motif objective action radical seek restoration perceive post glorious_revolution constitutional system action writing base premise british constitution compromise following near long period scottish irish constitutional grievance years war north_american colonial challenge westminster constitutional vision civil ecclesiastical political constitution impose_upon them campaign assertion contemporaneous perception right britons perhaps accurately assessment