History week 33.

The Acts of Union were two Acts of Parliament passed in 1706 and 1707 by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland respectively. These Acts led to the political union of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, turning into the Kingdom of Great Britain on May 1, 1707. The union was driven by various factors, including economic incentives, political stability, and security concerns. England wanted to secure political guards against potential French attacks and Jacobite restoration, while Scotland needed economic security and material assistance. Both nations wanted greater stability. England wanted to secure its northern border and ensure a smooth succession, while Scotland looked for political safeguards and influence within a larger framework. The union brought about important political and legal changes. Scottish peers can now sit in the House of Lords, and Scottish senates were elected to the House of Commons. The union had a massive cultural and social impact, influencing identity and relationships between the people of Scotland and England.