Battle Of Bannockburn Research Paper

As someone who is primarily Scotch Irish, I speak for myself and many other Americans in believing that the First Scottish War of Independence had a large impact in the lives of our ancestors. At the finale of this war was the Battle of Bannockburn, an extraordinary battle and victory for the underdog in numbers, Scotland, a country protecting its land from the massive power that was England. The historical significance of the battle is what keeps it alive to this day in Scotland. This past June, tens of thousands of people gathered to watch a reenactment of the battle in honor of it’s 700th anniversary . Musicians and comedians performed, there was great food, great beer, and an incredibly realistic representation of the Battle of Bannockburn was staged by hundreds of actors. Bannockburn day is not a holiday that is typically recognized in parts of the world other …show more content…
There was large economic growth, good relations with England, and the Feudal system (wherein the nobles received a section of land in exchange for their fealty to the king) was working well to keep Scotland prospering. In addition, Alexander was married to Henry III of England’s daughter (Edward I’s sister), creating direct ties to England. Henry, however, sought to be overlord of the Scots, as many English kings had in the past. Alexander III of Scotland died in 1286, and his three year old granddaughter, Margaret, took over the throne with a group of advisors. Margaret died on the journey to Scotland in 1290, and John Balliol was crowned as the official King of Scotland. Robert the Bruce was another strong contender for the crown, but his claim was not as strong as Balliol’s. Edward I of England insisted that King John join his war effort in France. Instead, Scotland made a treaty with France which prompted Edward to attack Scotland. The Scottish War of Independence had