The early history of Scotland is one of perpetual invasions down to the end of the fourteenth century.  This had the double effect of strengthening the nobles while it weakened the citizens, and increasing the influence of the clergy while weakening that of the intellectual classes.  The crown, completely overshadowed by the nobility, was forced to alliance with the Church.  The fifteenth century is a record of the struggles of the crown supported by the clergy against the nobility, whose power, however, they failed to break.  At last, in the reign of James V., the crown and Church gained the ascendancy.  The antagonism of the nobles to the Church was intensified, and consequently the nobles identified themselves with the Reformation.

The struggle continued during the regency which followed the death of James; but within twenty years the nobles had triumphed and the Church was destroyed.  There was an immediate rupture between the nobility and the new clergy, who united themselves with the people and became the advocates of democracy.  The crown and the nobles were now united in maintaining episcopacy, which became the special object of attack from the new clergy, who, despite the extravagance of their behaviour, became the great instruments in keeping alive and fostering the spirit of liberty.

When James VI. became also James I. of England, he used his new power to enforce episcopacy.  Charles I. continued his policy; but the reaction was gathering strength, and became open revolt in 1637.  The democratic movement became directly political.  When the great civil war followed, the Scots sold the king, who had surrendered to them, to the English, who executed him.  They acknowledged his son, Charles II., but not till he had accepted the Covenant on ignominious terms.

At the restoration Charles II. was able to renew the oppressive policy of his father and grandfather.  The restored bishops supported the crown; the people and the popular clergy were mercilessly persecuted.  Matters became even worse under James II., but the revolution of 1688 ended the oppression.  The exiled house found support in the Highlands not out of loyalty, but from the Highland preference for anarchy; and after 1745 the Highlanders themselves were powerless.  The trading spirit rose and flourished, and the barbaric hereditary jurisdictions were abolished.  This last measure marked but did not cause the decadence of the power of the nobility.  This had been brought about primarily by the union with England in 1707.  In the legislature of Great Britain the Scotch peers were a negligible and despised factor.  The coup de grace was given by the rebellion of 1745.  The law referred to expressed an already accomplished fact.

The union also encouraged the development of the mercantile and manufacturing classes, which, in turn, strengthened the democratic movement.  Meanwhile, a great literature was also arising, bold and inquiring.  Nevertheless, it failed to diminish the national superstition.