In Scotland however there was an additional factor - the Union with England. The book begins by looking at the history of the union and shows how popular discontent in Scotland often manifested itself in the radical traditions of Republicanism and Independence. The end of the 18th century saw a growth in radical ideas driven by the French Revolution. In Scotland radicals were inspired by Irish radicals. For instance Wolf Tones' well known United Irishmen had their counterpart in the United Scotsmen. Growing Scottish discontent in the early part of the 19th century led increasingly to the growth of radical movements that sought to break from English rule. By 1820 these movements had searched the point of support where leading figures considered a revolutionary break with Britain as distinct possibility.
If radicals believed it, the English authorities certainly did. Home Secretary Lord Sidmouth had an extensive network of spies embedded in the movements, and it seems likely, effectively controlled the main leadership of the movement in and around Glasgow. These spies, like they did across Britain in the same period, encouraged rebellion. It is well attested that such spies tended to do more than simply report activity. If they could provide evidence of potential rebellion they were more likely to get paid, and by encouraging rebellion among disaffected workers, they could make their prophecies true.
They also gave the authorities license to crack down. In April 1820 it came to a head. A week of discontent, protests and, crucially, mass strikes exploded. The radical movement had, despite the spies and agent provocateurs, had built a large network of activists and sympathetic workers. ON Saturday 1 April 1820 a Radical Committee placarded the streets of Glasgow and a strike exploded across much of Scotland's industrial areas the following Monday. A group of badly armed workers marched towards iron works near Falkirk, south of Scotland with the aim of seizing more weapons. They had expectations of meeting much larger revolutionary forces marching from elsewhere. At Bonnymuir they encountered British Cavalry, who overwhelmed the workers, killing capturing them. The expectations of mass numbers of revolutionaries had been concocted by spies, and the small numbers surprised the authorities and the rebels alike. Nevertheless the state had to have its blood and several rebels were selected as examples - two leading figures John Baird and Andrew Hardie made defiant speeches from the dock, but they, together with another leading radical James Wilson, were executed.
There is no doubt there was mass popular discontent. The scale of the strikes and the huge protests that were put down by bloody violence show that. There was clearly less of a mood for insurrection, and the small numbers that did rally to a more revolutionary flag did so because they were persuaded by spies who hard to work very hard to encourage them. The authors of this book make it clear that the executions of some of the leaders and the transportation of many others was the result of a gross distortion of justice. Indeed the actual trial itself was illegal as the authorities ignored the niceties of Scottish Law to push English convictions on the men. The fact that everyone was pardoned a few years later demonstrates the gross injustice.
Nonetheless, I was struck by the defiance of those convicted and the solidarity from the Scottish working class. I also noted that the jurors themselves stood up to an intimidating judge in their refusal to convict some prisoners. Nonetheless I was disappointed that the mass crowds at the executions didn't storm the scaffold and free their heroes.
There is little history about the events in Scotland in 1820. This is, as the authors explain, mostly to do with the importance given to events like Peterloo in 1819. The stressing of English history in the British Isles means even those of use who think we know a lot of our radical history ignorant of events like this. Welsh radicals will no doubt remind us that few today remember the Merthyr Rising of 1831, the repression of of which was as bloody as Peterloo or Scotland in 1820. As such, this is an excellent piece of history which should be read in this, the bicentenary of those cruel events.
Related Reviews
Hutchinson - Martyrs: Glendale and the Revolution in Skye
Devine - The Scottish Clearances: A History of the Dispossessed
Hunter - Set Adrift Upon the World: The Sutherland Clearances
Hutchinson - The Soap Man: Lewis, Harris & Lord Leverhulme
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