Issue 3- Reason For Passing The Act Of Union

Question 1

Issue 3

When was the act of Union passed?

Answer 1

On 16 January 1707, the TREATY OF UNION became law when its 25 ARTICLES (terms) were approved by 110 to 68 votes.

Question 2

Issue 3

Changing attitude of England

Answer 2

*The ACT OF SECURITY placed the issue of the Protestant succession under considerable threat.

*The ACT ANENT PEACE AND WAR was also seen as a threat to English national security.

*In order to put pressure on the Scottish Parliament, Westminster passed the ALIEN ACT in February 1705. ( if negotiations had not started by Dec 1705, Scots would be foreigners in England, (trade would be further limited))

• INCORPORATING UNION was only ever acceptable to English (Not a federal Union)

Question 3

Issue 3

The role of the Commissioners

Answer 3

*The DUKE OF HAMILTON– the leader of the opposition to Union – agreed that Queen Anne should be allowed to appoint the 31 Scottish Commissioners.

*There was a pro Union Majority on the commission.

*LOCKHART OF CARNWATH was the only Jacobite Scottish Commissioner and the only opponent of fully-incorporating union.

Question 4

Issue 3

The Union debate

Answer 4

*The Scottish Parliament met to debate the 25 proposed ARTICLES OF UNION in October 1706.

*91 petitions from scotlands counties and bourghs were sent to the scottish paliment expressing thir oppisition to the union.

*Scottish and English commisioners sat in different rooms and communicated through notes writen on paper.

Question 5

Issue 3

‘Political Management’, bribery and corruption

Answer 5

Another reason was polictical management, jobs, promotions, land and cash bribes were given or “awarded” to those in power who were anti union in order to persuade them to vote in favour of the union.

In addition: “Another reason was the passage of the union by the Scottish parliament, Scotlands counties and bourghs handed in 91 petitions to the Scottish government in oppision of the union, this was ignored by the Scottish government, this was due to political management that had occured meaning many of those in power in Scotland had been bribed to support the union.”

Question 6

Issue 3

The weakness of opposition

Answer 6

many of the Scots were in finatual burden after the failure of the darian scheme and Navigation Acts, this made them suseptibale to bribes which **changed many to vote in favour of the union. **

Question 7

Issue 3

English intimidation

Answer 7

The Scots relised that failure to agree to a union could result in an English evasion, this was on top of the already comfirmed trade restrictions.