Treaty of Union

Act Of Union 1707

So what do you know about it

Very little I imagine

Strange as most readers will have been born & educated here, but yet have very little knowledge of the Union between two of Europes oldest Kingdoms, Scotland founded 843 & England founded 927.

What have you heard ? The two most common myths.

The Union saved a bankrupt Scotland from destitution.

Scottish Esablishment sold out. "Bought & Sold for English gold"

What really happened ? A brief summary.

History of cross border raids,battles & wars mostly as a result of Englands desire to control as much of the world as they could.Scottish kings also guilty of attacking Northern English towns basically to steal as much as they could.

The Union Of The Crowns in 1603 when James the VI, King Of Scots inherited the English throne. With the same man on the throne of the two still independent countries there was less friction for a while.

In those days the monarch still had substantial power,foreign policy, declaring war, etc.The King being resident in the much larger Kingdom was swayed by the advise received in it's capital London.The Parliament in Edinburgh ruled within Scotland. Decisions made in London often had a detrimental affect in Scotland, especially its trade with Europe. This led to discontent in Scotland especially amongst the merchant classes.

In the second half of the seventeenth century England declared war on the Dutch Republic, one of Scotlands major trading partners. Scottish soldiers took part in wars against people we were trying to trade with.

Navigation act meant that only English companies could trade with England's North American & Caribbean colonies to the exclusion of the Scots & Irish despite having the same monarch,therefore same foreign affairs policy.

Darien Scheme. 1695 1699

Scotland merchant classes had a truly great idea to boost the economy & to replace the lost trade with America. They attempted to set up an over land trade route between the Atlantic & Pacific oceans in Central America long before the Panama Canal.

They made plenty of mistakes but were not helped by interference from England.

English companies lobbied their government to oppose this project as they feared it would interfere with their dominance of the high seas & the fortunes they were making.

They used their influence in Europe to stop people investing in the scheme.

Barred Scottish ships from all English controlled ports in the Caribbean

Let it be known that the English navy would not assist Scottish ships.It was basically a green light for pirates & the Spanish to attack. (remember same monarch responsible for foreign policy & military matters)

Darien Scheme turned into a major disaster in which many of Scotland's wealthy families lost fortunes.

Alien Act passed in 1705 by English Parliament stipulated that unless negotiations for Union were underway by Christmas of that year Scots would be considered aliens in England & prevented from trading with or in England

In the run up to the vote an English army was stationed at York & the Firth of Forth was blockaded just to concentrate the minds of those voting.

Despite the fact that many wealthy families had suffered great losses in the Darien Scheme.

The kingdom of Scotland at this time had no debt

The kingdom of England was in debt. The Corporation of London (private companies) was formed in 1692 to lend the English government money.

£400,000 was paid to the Scottish Parliament to make up for the fact it was entering an indebted union.

This money was instrumental in getting the Act of Union passed as many of the Parliamentarians had been shareholders in the doomed Darien Scheme. That together with offers of plum jobs with pensions & trade deals with Englands colonies did the trick.

In January 1707 the Act Of Union was signed, not in the Scottish Parliament but in the stables behind the Parliament building because a riotous mob were breaking down the door to try & stop the Union.

When word got out there were riots in most of Scotlands cities.

The privileged few, the only people who were in Parliament sold out Scotland.

Bought & sold for English gold. But was it that simple ?

England had been trying to conquer Scotland for hundreds of years. They eventually wised up & bribed the right people.

Some were just happy to take the money. Most were maneuvered into a position where they had little choice.

The Treaty allegedly had safeguards built in to protect Scotlands interests as the smaller partner.

1713 in Westminster Scottish MPS voted to disolve the Union but were outvoted by their more numerous English MPS.

So in reality this was not a true union not a partnership but a corporate take over.

So after hundreds of years England eventually got control of Scotland, its resources & its people who were very useful in extending England Empire.

On top of the £400,000 there was another price to be paid.

Astonishingly they actually changed the offical name of their country.Then & now they still use the name England but offically neither England or Scotland exist.The name of the state created in 1707 was Great Britain. The average English person would never have agreed to this.The powers that be in London have never been average they even changed the name of their country for profit.

So its no surpise they dont want you to know the details of the Treaty of Union.

Thats politics.

Did the Union really happen? Take look at this.

Politics. English establishment were & still are very good at it. Sneaky B-------

BETTER TOGETHER???

IT'S OK TO CHANGE YOUR MIND