--- title: Why Would Scotland Want to Break Up with England? description: Why did Scotland want to break away from the United Kingdom? canonical: https://time.com/3404305/scotland-england/ author: TIME Video article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-09-19T18:40:41.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-19T07:48:37.693Z article:section: History og:title: Why did Scotland want to break up with England? og:description: Why did Scotland want to break away from the United Kingdom? og:url: https://time.com/3404305/scotland-england/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt14b9a822a3cea209/6986a46855a859cf88a82ae3/176503947.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2076 og:image:height: 1168 og:image:alt: England And Scotland Fans Arrive To Renew The Oldest Rivalry In Football og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Why did Scotland want to break up with England? twitter:description: Why did Scotland want to break away from the United Kingdom? twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt14b9a822a3cea209/6986a46855a859cf88a82ae3/176503947.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Why Scotland Wanted to Break Up With England > Sponsored content. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. by [TIME Video](https://time.com/author/time-video/) ## TIME Video Sep 19, 2014 6:40 PM UTC  LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 14: A boy waves a flag as Scotland fans gather in Trafalgar Square ahead of their friendly match against England tonight on August 14, 2013 in London, England. Scotland and England will meet at Wembley stadium tonight for their first international in 14 years. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 14: A boy waves a flag as Scotland fans gather in Trafalgar Square ahead of their friendly match against England tonight on August 14, 2013 in London, England. Scotland and England will meet at Wembley stadium tonight for their first international in 14 years. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Dan Kitwood/Getty Images by [TIME Video](https://time.com/author/time-video/) ## TIME Video Sep 19, 2014 6:40 PM UTC It turns out that Scotland will be staying in the United Kingdom, but why did Scotland want to break away in the first place? Partially, it had to do with Scotland’s long-standing rivalry with England. Before the neighboring countries were joined together by the Acts of Union in 1707, their history was marked by a slew of battles. Although the wars ended, their rivalry continued into to the modern era. Even with a “No” vote against independence winning, Scotland’s general distaste for the English is unlikely to fade. ### Scotland Decides: The Independence Referendum In Photos  Yes campaign supporters in the Scottish referendum gather in George Square in Glasgow, Scotland, on Sept. 19, 2014 Lynne Cameron—AP  'No' ballots are stacked on a table during the Scottish independence referendum count at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sept. 19, 2014. David Cheskin—EPA  Supporters from the "No" Campaign react to a declaration in their favour, at the Better Together Campaign headquarters in Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 19, 2014. Dylan Martinez—Reuters  A voter, with clear voting intentions, holds up a Yes placard while heading to a local polling station to vote in the Scottish Independence Referendum at Ruchazie Community Centre, Ruchazie, Glasgow, Scotland, Sept/ 18, 2014. Robert Perry—EPA  People wait to cast their votes inside a polling station in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Sept. 18, 2014, during a referendum on Scotland's independence. Leon Neal—AFP/Getty Images  A supporter of the 'Yes' campaign stands outside a polling station as Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond casts his vote during the referendum on Scottish independence in Strichen, Scotland, Sept. 18, 2014. Dylan Martinez—Reuters  Campaigners wave Scottish Saltires at a 'Yes' campaign rally in Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 17, 2014. Dylan Martinez—Reuters  Graffiti supporting the "Yes" campaign is painted on a road in North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Sept. 17, 2014. Cathal McNaughton—Reuters  An anti-independence activist wearing shoes bearing the Union flag rallies opposite pro-independence supporters in Glasgow's George Square, in Scotland, on Sept. 17, 2014, on the eve of Scotland's independence referendum. Leon Neal—AFP/Getty Images  A young girl with a Scottish Saltire painted on her face waits outside a 'Yes' campaign rally in Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 17, 2014. Dylan Martinez—Reuters  Pro-independence supporters' Scottish flag seen in front of pro-union activists in Glasgow's George Square, in Scotland, on Sept. 17, 2014, on the eve of Scotland's independence referendum. Leon Neal—AFP/Getty Images  A woman with a 'Vote No' sign and a bag bearing a British flag, at an anti-Scottish independence Better Together rally at Community Central Hall, Glasgow, Sept. 17, 2014. Colin McPherson/Corbis  Cuckoo's Bakery reveal the result of the cupcakes referendum that the bakery has been holding since March 7 by selling Yes, No and undecided cupcakes at Cuckoo's Bakery in Dundas Street, on Sept. 17, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Matt Cardy—Getty Images  Men from King of Scots Robert the Bruce Society, hold the Scottish flags as they prepare to vote in the Scottish independence referendum on Sept 14, 2014 in Loch Lomond. 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