WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Acts of Union, passed by the English and Scottish Parliaments in 1707, led to the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain on 1 May of that year. The UK Parliament met for the first time in October 1707.

Detailed explanation-2: -In 1699, there were discussions between politicians in London and Edinburgh and the English side acknowledged that a union might be in both nations’ interest. The Scots hoped for a union of trade with vital access to English colonial markets.

Detailed explanation-3: -This changed dramatically in 1603 on the death of Elizabeth I of England. Because the Queen had died unmarried and childless, the English crown passed to the next available heir, her cousin James VI, King of Scotland. England and Scotland now shared the same monarch under what was known as a union of the crowns.

Detailed explanation-4: -After this personal union, the new monarch, James I and VI, sought to unite the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England into a state which he referred to as “Great Britain".

Detailed explanation-5: -After her death, the two Crowns were held in personal union by James, as James I of England, and James VI of Scotland. He announced his intention to unite the two, using the royal prerogative to take the title “King of Great Britain", and give a British character to his court and person.