• Position of England• Arguments for federal union• Arguments for incorporating union• Debate on the Act of Union• Reasons for passing the Act of Union

Passing of the Union

England’s Position• English attitude changed during 1690s.• Union would bring threats of war from the

north to an end. England at war with France already – did not want conflict with Scotland too

• An incorporating union would allay English fears of Jacobite succession in Scotland.

• No parliamentary opposition to treaty in England.

Changing English attitude

Due to shifting economic & political developments.

English fear of Scottish invasion. England at war with France already – did not want conflict with Scotland too.

• For centuries, English had feared invasion from Scotland, and it was considered that union with Scotland would bring threats of war to an end. England feared invasion from France on an almost constant basis.

• The English did not want conflict with Scotland too, and it was feared that France could use Scotland as a ‘backdoor’ into England.

An incorporating union (rather than federal) would allay English fears of Jacobite succession in Scotland.

• A federal union, in which the Scottish Parliament would retain its position and power, might allow a Stuart to return to the Scottish throne. Incorporating union would mean that the Hanoverian succession, legislated for by parliament in London, would remain.

No parliamentary opposition to treaty in England.

• By the time negotiations were being planned, there was little English parliamentary opposition in England to a treaty with Scotland.

• Treaty negotiations in London• Positions of members of the Scottish

Parliament• Issues discussed during the debate on the

treaty

Debate on Union

Higher: 10 Int 2: 5

• Reasons for worsening relations between Scotland & England

• Scotland’s Arguments for & against Union

• Reasons for failure of Darien.

• Problems faced by ‘new’ immigrants

• Why KKK feared?• Reasons for Blacks

moving North• Results of WWII for

Blacks.

Context• September, 1705: Duke of Hamilton advised

Queen Anne to move ahead with negotiations.

• Anne appointed Scottish commissioners = chose ones most likely to support union.

• Negotiations began on 16th April, 1706 in London.

• English propose FULL incorporating union.• Scottish propose federal union (accept

Hanoverian claim) but England not willing to negotiate. SO = Scots begin negotiating in hope of getting good deal for Scotland.

England’s 1st Offers• Scottish peers that they would retain their

tradition landed rights and privileges.• Assist the Scottish economy in relation to

taxation.• A sum of money called the ‘Equivalent’ to

match the losses of the Darien Scheme and to compensate the Scots for their share in the English debt that they would inherit following a union.

Scottish Parliament: Divide

• The Court Party – in favour of union and supported the crown.• The Country Party – against a union and interested in protecting

the interests of Scotland over those of England.• The Cavalier Party – against a union. However, they were

Jacobites and often did not agree with the Country Party.• The New Party – eventually supported union, but frequently

changed their minds before coming to this consensus. They were nicknamed the “Squadron Volante” because they were thought to be like a flying squad constantly switching from one side to the other.

What did they discuss?

• Abolish Aliens Act – would have terrible impact on Scottish £.

• Concern that only those who supported Hanoverian succession would hold key positions.

• British govt. would favour English affairs. • Losses of Darien would not be solved by

union.• Lack of representation in British Parliament.

45 Scottish MPs and 16 peers in House of Lords. Cornwall alone had 44 MPs!!

Unrest!• There was mob violence in Edinburgh and other

towns because people were opposing union.• Jacobites were unhappy at the thought of

complete links with England and an end once and for all to the Jacobite succession.

• Covenanters were also restless because union meant that the National Covenant of 1638 (This had demanded a free Scottish Parliament and a free General Assembly with no interference from the king. This document had been signed by nobles, ministers and thousands of ordinary Scots.) would never be observed in Scotland.