Treaty of Union

Treaty of Union
An Act for an Union of the Two Kingdoms of England and Scotland
Articles of Union, 1707
TypeUnion Treaty
ContextPolitical union between the Kingdoms of Scotland and England to form one state known as the Kingdom of Great Britain
Drafted22 April–25 April 1706[1]
SignedJuly 22, 1706 (1706-07-22)
LocationParliament House, Edinburgh, Scotland
Palace of Westminster, London, England
Effective1 May 1707
Negotiators
Signatories

The Treaty of Union is the name usually now given to the treaty[a] which led to the creation of the new state of Great Britain. The treaty united the Kingdom of England (which already included Wales) and the Kingdom of Scotland to be "United into One Kingdom by the Name of Great Britain".[2] At the time it was more often referred to as the Articles of Union.

The details of the Treaty were agreed on 22 July 1706, and separate Acts of Union were then passed by the parliaments of England and Scotland to put the agreed Articles into effect. The Treaty of Union was eventually passed in the Parliament of Scotland following months of intense debate, with 110 voting in favour for the treaty to 67 against. The passing of the vote has been described as a vote "to end Scotland's independence".[3]

The political union took effect on 1 May 1707, with the Lord Chancellor of Scotland James Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Findlater, closing the Parliament of Scotland with the words "there’s ane end of ane auld sang" whilst the church bells of St Giles' Cathedral played the tune Why should I feel so sad on my wedding day?.[4]

  1. ^ "The 1706 negotiations". parliament.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  2. ^ "The Treaty (act) of the Union of Parliament 1706". Scots History Online. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
    "Union with England Act 1707". The national Archives. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
    "Union with Scotland Act 1706". Retrieved 18 July 2011.: Both Acts of Union and the Treaty state in Article I: That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon 1 May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN.
  3. ^ "Edinburgh and the Act of Union 1707". Museums and Galleries Edinburgh. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Edinburgh and the Act of Union 1707". Museums and Galleries Edinburgh. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.


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