Event—Adult Education

Modern Scotland: From the Act of Union to Devolution

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Study the Scottish national identity through history.

Edinburgh Castle, Raphael Tuck & Sons postcard, 1908. Source: The Newberry Library, Call Number: Modern MS LauderL.

Class Description

From the Act of Union to current debates about independence, through a period of political upheavals and social transformation, the Scottish people have maintained a proud, distinctive national identity. Topics to be treated in this class include the Jacobite Risings, the Scottish Enlightenment, the Highland Clearances, the contributions of Scots to the British Empire and to fighting two world wars, the emergence of the Scottish National Party, and the national question after Brexit.

Frank Biletz received his PhD in history from the University of Chicago, with a primary specialization in modern British and Irish history. He is currently Adjunct Instructor in History at Loyola University Chicago and has been teaching classes at the Newberry since 1994.

Materials List

Recommended

  • T. M. Devine, The Scottish Nation, A Modern History. Penguin Books, 2012. ISBN: 978-0718193201 or 978-01410276 (Please Note: This book is out of print, but used copies are available at online stores and at the Chicago Public Library)

First Reading

  • Participants should read Part One, chapters 1 to 3 of the T. M. Devine book.

Cost and Registration

This class is full, but you can still register for the waitlist on Learning Stream.

8 sessions, $320 ($288 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

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Questions?

Call us at (312) 255-3700 or send us an email at adulteducation@newberry.org.

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