How did Scotland finally secure its independence between Bannockburn and 1328?
Securing independence 1314-1328: continued war and raids after Bannockburn, the Declaration of Arbroath of 1320, and the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton of 1328 by which England recognised Scottish independence.
How Scotland secured its independence after Bannockburn: continued raids on England, the Declaration of Arbroath of 1320 asserting Scottish independence and the right to resist tyranny, and the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton of 1328 in which England finally recognised Robert Bruce as king of an independent Scotland.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point covers how Scotland turned the victory at Bannockburn into recognised independence, from continued warfare after 1314, through the Declaration of Arbroath of 1320, to the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton of 1328. Winning a battle was not the same as winning the war: England still claimed Scotland, so Bruce kept up the pressure. The SQA topic requires you to know what the Declaration of Arbroath said and why it mattered, and how the 1328 treaty finally settled the conflict. This is the conclusion of the whole Wars of Independence story.
The period matters because it shows the difference between military victory and a lasting political settlement, and the Declaration of Arbroath is one of the most famous documents in Scottish history. Questions are usually Describe (the main points of the Declaration) or Explain (why England recognised independence in 1328), so you need both the content of the Declaration and the reasons for the final settlement.
The answer
After Bannockburn in 1314, the war was not over: England still refused to recognise Robert Bruce as king or Scotland as independent. Bruce kept up military pressure, launching damaging raids deep into northern England to force England to negotiate. In 1320 Scottish nobles sent the Declaration of Arbroath, a letter to the Pope, asking him to recognise Scottish independence and Bruce as rightful king, asserting that Scotland had always been free, and famously declaring that the Scots would never submit to English rule. Finally, after Edward II was overthrown and replaced by a weaker English government, England agreed to peace. The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328 recognised Robert Bruce as king of an independent Scotland, ending the wars that had begun with the succession crisis of 1286.
Continued war after Bannockburn
Bannockburn secured Bruce's throne, but England did not give up its claim. To force a settlement, Bruce went on the offensive, sending Scottish armies to raid deep into the north of England. These raids caused great destruction and forced the English to pay for protection, putting steady pressure on England to come to terms. Bruce understood that only sustained pressure, not a single victory, would make England negotiate.
The Declaration of Arbroath, 1320
In 1320 a group of Scottish nobles and barons sent a letter to the Pope, now known as the Declaration of Arbroath. It asked the Pope to recognise Scotland's independence and Robert Bruce as its rightful king, and to press Edward II to leave Scotland in peace. It argued that Scotland had always been a free kingdom. Its most famous passage declared that the Scots would never submit to English rule while a hundred of them remained alive, and even said they would replace Bruce if he ever gave in to England, framing independence as belonging to the community of the realm, not just the king.
The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton, 1328
The final settlement came after political change in England. Edward II was overthrown and replaced by a new government acting for his young son. Weaker and wanting to end a costly war, this government agreed to peace. By the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328, England recognised Robert Bruce as king of Scots and accepted Scotland as independent, abandoning its claim to overlordship. The wars that had begun with the death of Alexander III in 1286 were over, and Scotland's independence was, for now, secured.
Examples in context
An Explain question on the 1328 settlement links causes to effects: "Bannockburn had broken English power in Scotland, so England could no longer enforce its claim"; "Scottish raids damaged northern England, which pressured England to make peace"; "Edward II was overthrown and a weaker government took over, which was readier to settle and wanted to end a costly war, so it recognised Bruce and Scottish independence".
Try this
Q1. What was the Declaration of Arbroath, and to whom was it sent? [2 marks]
- What the marker wants. A letter of 1320 from Scottish nobles to the Pope, asserting Scottish independence and Bruce's right to be king and asking the Pope to recognise it and press England for peace.
Q2. Why did Bruce continue to raid northern England after Bannockburn? [2 marks]
- What the marker wants. To keep up pressure on England, because a single victory had not ended England's claim; the damage and cost of the raids pushed England toward negotiating peace.
Q3. What did the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton (1328) achieve? [2 marks]
- What the marker wants. England recognised Robert Bruce as king of Scots and accepted Scotland as an independent kingdom, ending the Wars of Independence.
A note on sources
This guide is AI-written and not individually human-reviewed. The events and dates follow the standard account taught for the SQA National 5 History Wars of Independence topic; verify content and emphasis against the SQA National 5 History course specification and SQA past papers at sqa.org.uk.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA N5 style5 marksDescribe the main points of the Declaration of Arbroath (1320). (5 marks)Show worked answer →
A Describe question, so make five separate, developed points of fact from recall.
Possible points: the Declaration of Arbroath was a letter of 1320 sent by Scottish nobles and barons to the Pope; it asked the Pope to recognise Scotland's independence and Robert Bruce as its rightful king; it argued that Scotland had always been a free and independent kingdom; it asked the Pope to press Edward II of England to leave Scotland in peace; and, famously, it declared that the Scots would never submit to English rule while a hundred of them remained alive, even stating they would replace Bruce as king if he ever submitted to England.
Any five accurate, developed points reach full marks. Keep each factual.
SQA N5 style6 marksExplain the reasons why England finally recognised Scottish independence in 1328. (6 marks)Show worked answer →
An Explain question, so give developed reasons linking cause to effect, around six.
Developed reasons: Bruce's victory at Bannockburn had broken English military power in Scotland, so England could no longer enforce its claim; Scottish raids deep into northern England caused great damage, which put pressure on the English to make peace; the Declaration of Arbroath helped win wider support for the Scottish cause, so Scotland's position strengthened diplomatically; Edward II was overthrown and replaced by a new, weaker government in England, which was more willing to settle; and that government wanted to end a costly, unwinnable war, so it agreed to recognise Bruce and Scottish independence in the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton.
Each reason must carry the factor through to its result.
Related dot points
- Robert Bruce 1306-1314: his seizure of the throne after killing John Comyn, his early defeats and recovery, his guerrilla campaign and capture of castles, and his decisive victory at Bannockburn in 1314.
How Robert Bruce became king and turned the war: his killing of John Comyn and seizure of the throne in 1306, his early defeats and recovery, his guerrilla tactics and recapture of castles, and his decisive victory over Edward II at Bannockburn in 1314.
- William Wallace and the rising of 1297-1298: the reasons for the rebellion, the victory at Stirling Bridge, Wallace as Guardian, and the defeat at Falkirk and its consequences.
How William Wallace led the Scottish rising of 1297-1298: the reasons for the rebellion against English rule, the victory at Stirling Bridge, Wallace's role as Guardian, and his defeat at Falkirk in 1298 with its consequences for the Scottish cause.
- Edward I as overlord 1292-1296: his harsh treatment of King John Balliol, the Scottish alliance with France, Edward's invasion, the sack of Berwick, the defeat of Balliol, and the imposition of English control.
How Edward I's demands as overlord drove Scotland to war: his humiliation of King John Balliol, the Scottish treaty with France, Edward's invasion of 1296, the sack of Berwick, the defeat and abdication of Balliol, and the imposition of direct English rule.
- The Great Cause 1291-1292: the appeal to Edward I, his demand to be accepted as overlord at Norham, the rival claims of Bruce and Balliol, and Edward's choice of John Balliol as king.
How the disputed Scottish succession was settled by the Great Cause: the Scots' appeal to Edward I, his demand to be recognised as overlord at Norham, the rival claims of Robert Bruce and John Balliol, and Edward's decision to make Balliol king in 1292.
- The succession problem 1286-1292: the death of Alexander III, the position of the Maid of Norway, the Treaty of Birgham, and her death leaving Scotland without a clear heir.
How the death of Alexander III in 1286 and then the Maid of Norway created a succession crisis in Scotland: the role of the Guardians, the Treaty of Birgham with England, and how the Maid's death left no clear heir and opened the door to rival claimants.
Sources & how we know this
- National 5 History Course Specification — SQA (2024)
- National 5 History past papers and marking instructions — SQA (2025)