Scotland is a European country that covers the northern parts of the island of Great Britain. The country shares common boundaries with England and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea from the east, and the Irish Sea and North Channel from the south-west. Aside of the mainland, Scotland is also made of approximately 790 islands, including the Hebrides and the Northern Isles. For now the country is part of the United Kingdom but after the referendum for independence on the 18th of September, 2014, Scotland may end its union with the United Kingdom and become an independent country for the first time since the mid Early Modern Period.
Scotland became part of the United Kingdom in 1707 under the Acts of Union 1707. Since then Scotland has been under the rule of the British Royal Family whose current ruling monarch is Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth II ascended on the 6th of February 1952 and since then has been the Head of Commonwealth and the queen regent of seven independent countries: Australia, Canada, Ceylon, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and of course the United Kingdom, which also makes her for now the Queen of Scotland. The queen and her family reside in Buckingham Palace which is located in the City of Westminster in London.
However the tie between Scotland and England dates long before the formation of the United Kingdom. It was in 1603 that Scotland and England became linked to one another when King James VI who was the King of Scotland became the King of England. So if the referendum for independence passes, Scotland will not only become and independent country for the first time since centuries but will also cut its connection with England for the first time since the Jacobean Era.
According to the latest numbers a total of 4,285,323 people will vote in the referendum for independence. This means that a historically high turnout of 97% of the electorate will give a “YES” or “NO” to the questions whether Scotland should sever its centuries long coexistence with England. A total of 2,608 polling places will be set across the country and votes will be cast until 22:00. The results of the referendum are expected to be declared on Friday morning, the 19th of September, 2014.
This referendum for independence will be the third that the Scottish people will take. The first referendum was held in 1979, while the second was eighteen years later in 1997. The fact that this is the third referendum that the Scottish hold in order to gain independence means the governing bodies of the country want to gain their removal from the United Kingdom. The desire to become an independent country shows that the Scottish are ready and willing to live on their own without taking care of the rubbish of other countries.
With all this being said the only thing that remains is to wait for the votes to be counted and see whether the Scottish population is on the same pages with its government who has been trying for over three decades to cut its links with the UK.
