Page 1: Acts and Tensions
The relationship between Scotland and England worsened due to several key events and legislative actions:
Act of Settlement (1701)
The English Parliament passed the Act of Settlement, establishing the Hanoverian succession for the entire kingdom without consulting the Scottish Parliament. This unilateral decision caused significant tension between the two nations.
Highlight: The Act of Settlement was a major source of conflict, as it ignored Scottish interests in determining the future monarch.
Act of Security (1703)
In retaliation to the Act of Settlement, the Scottish Parliament passed the Act of Security. This act declared that Scotland would choose its own monarch, potentially leading to separate monarchies and future conflicts.
Definition: The Act of Security was a Scottish law that asserted Scotland's right to select its own monarch, separate from England's choice.
Navigation Act
The English Parliament passed a Navigation Act that prevented Scotland from trading with English colonies. This economic restriction further strained relations between the two kingdoms.
Example: Scottish merchants were barred from trading with lucrative English colonies in the Americas, causing resentment and economic hardship.
Alien Act (1705)
The English Parliament passed the Alien Act, threatening Scotland with economic sanctions, including a ban on exports to England, unless Scotland accepted the Hanoverian succession.
Vocabulary: Economic sanctions are punitive measures imposed by one country on another, typically to force a change in behavior or policy.
