The Creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707

Why did both the parliaments of Scotland and England vote themselves out of existence in 1707 in order to create a new ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain’? From an English perspective, there was always a strong feeling that this union did not create a new kingdom and that it certainly did not create a new nation. The union of 1707 from this perspective represented extending the advantages of Englishness to a less fortunate people. There were some Scots who saw it that way as well. Economic disaster had struck the nation. The Scottish Parliament in 1695 had approved a charter for an international...