Issue 2 - arguments for and against union

Question 1

Key people in favour

Answer 1

Earl of Roxburgh - he was a member of squadrone volante
James Ogilvy - leader of court party
Duke of Queensberry - preceded Ogilvy as leader of the Court Party
Daniel Defoe - English spy
Lord Godolphin - he was Queen Anne’s Lord High Treasurer
James Hodge - favoured a mid way position and published a book
William season of Pitmeaden - vocal supporter of incorporating union.
John Clerk of Penicuik - Mp who vocally supported union

Question 2

Key people against union

Answer 2

Lord Belhaven - Leader of country party
Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun - key member of country party
Duke of Hamilton - leader of country party
Lockhart of Carnwarth - only commissioner against union

Question 2

Economic reasons in favour of union

Answer 2

• Union would give free access to commerce with English colonies as this had been denied since the 1660s due to the Navigations Acts.
• Scotland was still struggling financially due to the Darien scheme failure and they would benefit from union economically as they would be able to rely on England for financial support.

Question 3

Economic reasons against union

Answer 3

• Becoming part of Great Britain would mean that taxes were raised as English taxes were set at a higher rate than Scottish ones.
• There was fear that the Scottish manufacturing industry would suffer as Scottish producers would be unable to compete with better quality and lower cost English goods

Question 4

Religious reasons for union

Answer 4

• Scotland would accept the Act of Settlement which would ensure that no Roman Catholic could become Monarch and this meant that the effect of “popery” was reduced.
• Reduced fear as fear as many Scots Protestants were afraid of a return of an Episcopalian church

Question 5

Political reasons against union

Answer 5

• The notion that Scotland had always been an independent nation was held dear by many who felt that union would be dishonourable and Scotland would suffer enslavement to English interests.

Question 6

Political reasons in favour of union

Answer 6

• Scotland would be offered better protection by being part of Great Britain as threats from other countries would be lessened.
• Some argued that union with England would provide Scotland with opportunities of career advancements, especially in the army.

Question 6

Religious reasons against union

Answer 6

• Presbyterians feared that union would mean English domination in religious affairs and the imposition of the Anglican Church in Scotland.
• English parliament had many members who were in favour of an Episcopalian church and with bishops holding seats in the House of Lords, there was danger that the Presbyterian church would disappear.

Question 7

Social reason in favour of union

Answer 7

• Civil disorder had increased during the 17th century as Scotland had fell behind its European rivals economically and people reacted unfavourably to a rise in poverty as it spread around the country
• Farmers were loosing their farms due to bankruptcy and felt that union would provide a more stable economic background for framers and others to invest in their land improvement and secure their property.

Question 8

Social reasons against union

Answer 8

• There was no gaurentee that negotiations between Scotland and England would safeguard Scottish legal tradition and many feared that Scots law would be ruined by political union.
• Commissioners were aware that public opinion was against union.

Question 9

Succession reasons in favour of union

Answer 9

• Hanoverian Succession would be secured which would protect Scottish Protestantism
• Anti - jacobites would be relieved that the throne would never pass back into the Stuart dynasty.

Question 10

Succession reasons against union

Answer 10

• Union would mean Hanoverian, not Stuart succession in Scotland
• Some argued that Scottish identity would be threatened due to the guaranteed end of the Stuart line.