17/10/2014 Acts of Union 1707 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Acts of Union 1707 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Acts of Union were two Acts of Parliament: the [1] Union with Scotland Act 1706 passed by the Union with Scotland Act 1706 Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland. They put into effect the terms of the Treaty of Union that had been agreed on 22 July 1706, following negotiation between commissioners representing the parliaments of the two countries. The Acts joined the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland (previously separate states with separate legislatures, but with the same monarch) into a single, united Parliament of England kingdom named "Great Britain".[2] Long title An Act for a Union of the Two Kingdoms of England and Scotland The two countries had shared a monarch since the Chapter 6 Anne c. 11 Union of the Crowns in 1603, when King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne from his double Territorial Kingdom of England (inc. Wales) first cousin twice removed, Queen Elizabeth I. extent Although described as a Union of Crowns, until 1707 Status: Current legislation there were in fact two separate Crowns resting on the same head (as opposed to the implied creation of a Revised text of statute as amended single Crown and a single Kingdom, exemplified by (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Ann/6/11) the later Kingdom of Great Britain). There had been three attempts in 1606, 1667, and 1689 to unite the Union with England Act 1707 two countries by Acts of Parliament, but it was not until the early 18th century that both political establishments came to support the idea, albeit for different reasons. The Acts took effect on 1 May 1707. On this date, the Scottish Parliament and the English Parliament united to form the Parliament of Great Britain, based in the Palace of Westminster in London, the home of the Parliament of Scotland English Parliament.[3] Hence, the Acts are referred to Long title Act Ratifying and Approving the as the Union of the Parliaments. On the Union, the Treaty of Union of the Two Kingdoms historian Simon Schama said "What began as a hostile of SCOTLAND and ENGLAND merger, would end in a full partnership in the most powerful going concern in the world ... it was one of Chapter Anne c. 7 the most astonishing transformations in European Territorial Kingdom of Scotland history."[4] extent Status: Current legislation Revised text of statute as amended Contents (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aosp/1707/7) 1 Historical background Documents relevant to personal 1.1 Previous attempts at union and legislative unions of the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_Union_1707 1/19 17/10/2014 Acts of Union 1707 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 1.1.1 Early Stuart union countries of the United Kingdom 1.1.2 Union during the Treaty of Windsor 1175 interregnum Treaty of York 1237 1.1.3 Later attempts Treaty of Perth 1266 1.2 Treaty and passage of the Acts of Treaty of Montgomery 1267 1707 Treaty of Aberconwy 1277 2 Political motivations Statute of Rhuddlan 1284 2.1 English perspective Treaty of Edinburgh–N'hampton 1328 2.2 Scottish perspective Treaty of Berwick 1357 2.3 Irish perspective Poynings' Law 1495 3 Provisions of the Acts Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 4 Criticisms Crown of Ireland Act 1542 5 300th anniversary Treaty of Edinburgh 1560 6 Scottish Voting Records Union of the Crowns 1603 7 See also Union of England and Scotland Act 1603 8 Notes Act of Settlement 1701 9 References Act of Security 1704 10 External links Alien Act 1705 Treaty of Union 1706 Acts of Union 1707 Historical background Wales and Berwick Act 1746 Irish Constitution 1782 Previous attempts at union Acts of Union 1800 Government of Ireland Act 1920 England and Scotland were separate states for several Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921 centuries before eventual union, and English attempts to take over Scotland by military force in the late 13th Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 and early 14th centuries were ultimately unsuccessful N. Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 (see the Wars of Scottish Independence). The first Northern Ireland Assembly 1973 attempts at Union surrounded the foreseen unification N. Ireland Constitution Act 1973 of the Royal lines of Scotland and England. In pursuing the Scottish throne in the 1560s, Mary, Northern Ireland Act 1998 Queen of Scots pledged herself to a peaceful union Government of Wales Act 1998 between the two kingdoms.[5] Scotland Act 1998 Government of Wales Act 2006 England and Scotland were ruled by the same king for the first time in 1603 when James VI of Scotland also Scotland Act 2012 became the king of England. However they remained Edinburgh Agreement 2012 two separate states until 1 May 1707. Early Stuart union http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_Union_1707 2/19 17/10/2014 Acts of Union 1707 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The first attempt to unite the parliaments of England and Scotland was by Mary's son, King James VI and I. On his accession to the English throne in 1603 King James announced his intention to unite his two realms so that he would not be "guilty of bigamy". James used his Royal prerogative powers to take the style of 'King of Great Britain'[6] and to give an explicitly British character to his court and person.[7] Whilst James assumed the creation of a full union was a foregone conclusion, the Parliament of England was concerned that the formation of a new state would deprive England of its ancient liberties, taking on the more absolutist monarchical structure James had previously enjoyed in Scotland.[8] In the meantime, James declared that Great Britain The first Union flag, created by be viewed 'as presently united, and as one realm and kingdom, James VI and I, symbolising the uniting of England and Scotland and the subjects of both realms as one people'.[9] under one Crown The Scottish and English parliaments established a commission to negotiate a union, formulating an instrument of union between the two countries. However, the idea of political union was unpopular, and when James dropped his policy of a speedy union, the topic quietly disappeared from the legislative agenda. When the House of Commons attempted to revive the proposal in 1610, it was met with a more open hostility.[10] Union during the interregnum The Solemn League and Covenant 1643 sought a forced union of the Church of England into the Church of Scotland, and although the covenant referred repeatedly to union between the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, a political union was not spelled out. In the aftermath of the Civil War, in which the Covenanters had fought for the King, Oliver Cromwell occupied Scotland and began a process of creating a 'Godly Britannic' Union between the former Kingdoms.[11] In 1651, the Parliament of England issued the Tender of Union declaration supporting Scotland's Flag showing the 'perfected' union incorporation into the Commonwealth and sent Commissioners between England and Scotland to Scotland with the express purpose of securing support for Union, which was assented to by the Commissioners (Members of Parliament) in Scotland. On 12 April 1654, Cromwell – styling himself Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland – enacted An Ordinance by the Protector for the Union of England and Scotland, which created 'one Commonwealth and under one Government' to be known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.[12] The ordinance was ratified by the Second Protectorate Parliament, as an Act of Union, on 26 June 1657.[13] One united Parliament sat in Westminster, with 30 representatives from Scotland and 30 from Ireland joining the existing members from England. Whilst free trade was brought about amongst the new Commonwealth, the economic benefits were generally not felt as a result of heavy taxation used to fund Cromwell's New Model Army.[11] This republican union was dissolved automatically with the restoration of King Charles II to the thrones of England and Scotland. Scottish members expelled from the Commonwealth Parliament petitioned unsuccessfully for a continuance of the union. Cromwell's union had simultaneously raised interest in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_Union_1707 3/19 17/10/2014 Acts of Union 1707 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and suspicion of the concept of union and when Charles II attempted to recreate the union and fulfil the work of his grandfather in 1669, negotiations between Commissioners ground to a halt.[14] Later attempts An abortive scheme for union occurred in Scotland in 1670.[15] Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the records of the Parliament of Scotland show much discussion of possible union. William and Mary, whilst supportive of the idea, had no interest in allowing it to delay their enthronement. Impetus for this incorporating union came almost entirely from King William, who feared leaving Scotland open to a French invasion. In the 1690s, the economic position of Scotland worsened, and relations between Scotland and England became strained.[16] In the following decade, however, union again became a significant topic of political debate. Treaty and passage of the Acts of 1707 Deeper political integration had been a key policy of Queen Anne from the time she acceded to the throne in 1702. Under the aegis of the Queen and her ministers in both kingdoms, the parliaments of England and Scotland agreed to participate in fresh negotiations for a union treaty in 1705. Both countries appointed 31 commissioners to conduct the negotiations.