Welsh Nationalism and the teaching of history at the turn of the twentieth century

YODA Jun

doi:10.24471/shigaku.120.1_39

Recent research on British national identity has argued that Welsh ethnic nationalism was restrained by the great benefits gained from the British Empire, and its own ethnic identity was hidden in the shadow of inclusive "British" identity. In contrast, the author of this article takes the position that being a member of the British Empire tended to strengthen "Welshness," and stimulated a type of Welsh nationalism different from Anglophobia. He proceeds to examine the validity of this interpretation by focusing on the teaching of history in Wales at the turn of the twentieth century. Wales in those days witnessed a series of educational reforms to transform its schools from English "carbon-copies" into "nurseries of the nation" that would form the base for fostering Welsh ethnic identity. Consequently, Welsh history found a prominent place in the curriculum, and the annual celebration of St. David's Day in school was initiated and took hold. Under such circumstances, interest in Welsh history was aroused and greatly encouraged patriotism among the Welsh people. The content in Welsh history textbooks at the time reveals that Welsh patriotism inspired by studying Welsh history contained no inconsistencies with the patriotism required of a British subject. The "patriotic Welshman" meant a person who loyally bore the duty to the empire of which Wales had formed the oldest part. Therefore, Welsh nationalism at the turn of the twentieth century was by no means anti-English or separatist. It was a kind of crusade against indifference. While nationalists sought to give a boost to Welsh national sentiment by extolling the greatness of Welshmen as empire-builders, they persistently required England to recognize Wales as a distinct nation; not as a mere geographical expression, but as an equal partner in empire-building.

Welsh Nationalism and the teaching of history at the turn of the twentieth century

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