1707 is an extraordinary year for England and Scotland. This year, the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland reached a complete merger, and a brand-new Kingdom of Great Britain was born from hundreds of years of disputes.
The birth of the kingdom of great Britain
Prior to this, Scotland and England, both on the same island, split for a long time, followed different development trajectories, and were constantly at odds with each other, so that they met. Powerful England wants to unify the British island by force; Scotland, which is less powerful, has made many alliances with France, England's arch-enemy, to curb England's expansion ambitions.
1296, King Edward I of England of England took advantage of the Scottish civil strife to invade and plunder. The Scots were humiliated and fought, during which two famous national heroes emerged, william wallace and Roibert Briuis. 13 14, the Scottish army defeated the British in the Battle of Bannockburn and won the final victory of the War of Independence. The Scots won their independence and freedom with their own blood, and the glory of this victory remained in the national memory of the Scots for a long time. At the same time, they were branded as cherishing independence and being hostile to the British.
1603, UK? Virgin queen? Elizabeth I died and the throne passed to King James VI of Scotland (crowned King James I of England). The two countries have achieved the unification of the throne and their relations have undergone earth-shaking changes. Since then, the two countries have shared a monarch, but each has its own parliament and Privy Council, and they have maintained independent status in politics, religion, law and economy, and they are still wary of each other. During the reign of Charles I, he tried to unify the churches of the two countries and promote the new prayer book of the Church of England in Scotland, but unexpectedly aroused the great rebellion led by the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, which eventually led to the civil war in England.
Later, oliver cromwell conquered Scotland by military means, but this only made the Scots' demand for independence and national sentiment stronger. 1660 After the restoration of charles ii, Scotland immediately resumed its independent status. 168889,? Glorious revolution? James II (James II, Scottish James VII) was deposed, and Mary and Willem van Oranje were elected by the British Parliament. After weighing the pros and cons, the Scottish Parliament also recognized this point, and the two countries still maintained the status of joint throne until the merger of 1707.
The merger has a far-reaching impact on the two countries, ending the history of Scotland's existence as an independent country and sowing the seeds of vicissitudes for the future Scottish society; The merger made England eliminate the security hidden danger of the northern border and put an end to the possibility of any foreign forces interfering in the affairs of the British Island. The sun never sets? The empire was built on the solid foundation of the merger of 1707.
Intriguingly, the completion of this merger is far from what you want. On the contrary, the merger was once fiercely opposed by Scottish society. However, in this atmosphere, the Scottish Parliament finally promoted the successful completion of the merger.
The merger of 1707 has always been the focus of discussion among historians, and there are also different opinions on the motives for Scotland to agree to the merger. Looking at Scotland on the eve of the merger, the author thinks that the national economic system of Scotland was already crumbling at that time, and the economic problem was the most urgent, realistic and basic problem facing the Scots. Among many factors that promote the merger, the importance of economic motivation is beyond doubt. Merger is a political need in England and an economic need in Scotland.
Next, the author tries to restore the economic difficulties faced by Scotland at that time and explore the ins and outs of this historical event from the perspective of economics.
The Dilemma of Scottish Economic and Trade Development
/kloc-In the middle of the 0/7th century, Scotland experienced the cruel conquest of England, and its economy was depressed and devastated, which Cromwell described as? A broken country? . The restoration restored Scotland's independence and economy, and once ushered in a brief prosperity. However, Scotland is a small country with a small population and extremely uneven regional development. Its overall economic strength is far lower than that of Britain, the Netherlands, France and other countries. In the rapidly changing political and economic environment, the prosperity of Scotland was short-lived and soon came to an end.
/kloc-mercantilism became popular in western European countries in the late 0/7th century. Scotland's trading partners, such as France, Britain, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries, have set high tariff barriers. In the fierce commercial competition, Scotland has no advantage at all: its export commodities are mainly agricultural and mineral products such as wool, salt, coal, wheat, flax, fish and livestock, which lack competitiveness and cannot take effective measures to counter trade barriers and protect its own interests. Scotland's domestic market is small, and its economic prosperity depends largely on overseas trade. However, at this time, the strict protection policies of various markets have discouraged Scots.
After the restoration, England, which has always regarded Scotland as a political hidden danger and economic rival, included it in the navigation bill. Navigation Act is a law issued by Britain against competitors in maritime trade, which stipulates that all goods shipped from Europe to Britain must be transported by British ships or ships from commodity-producing countries. All goods shipped from Asia, Africa and America to Britain or Ireland and British colonies must be transported by British ships or British colonial ships; The fishery import and export goods in British ports and the goods traded in British border coastal areas are all transported by British ships. The purpose of these regulations is to monopolize the trade between Britain and overseas colonies. The Scots lack their own colonies, and they can't get a slice of the rich colonial trade in England.
Not only that, Scotland suffered greatly from the war that England participated in for its own interests. Three times? Anglo-Dutch war? Satisfied the interests of the English, but seriously violated the wishes of the Scots, so that Scotland lost their best trading partner. After William III ascended the throne, wars emerged one after another. During the period of 1688 1707, Scotland was peaceful for only five years. 1689 1697, England and Scotland were involved in the augsburg League War. From 170 1, Scotland was dragged into the Spanish succession war against France.
The Anglo-French War has brought many negative effects to the Scottish economy: France * * * restricted the import of Scottish goods, which made Scotland lose most of the traditional market share; The Royal Navy patrolled Scottish ports to stop trade with France; More seriously, French privateers frequently ravaged major commercial routes, Scotland lacked a navy and was not protected by the British navy, and merchant ships were repeatedly looted.
Strict trade barriers and continuous wars have dealt a heavy blow to Scottish commerce, making the road of economic development in Scotland difficult.
It never rains but it pours. /kloc-At the end of 0/7th century, Scotland suffered an unexpected famine. From 1695 to 1699, the abnormal climate led to a sharp drop in Scottish grain production and a sharp rise in food prices. Despite Scotland's efforts to ease the crisis and the church's efforts to help, the poor still have no food and go hungry everywhere. Scottish physician and cultural relic Robert? Sir Sibbald described the disaster brought by famine to Scots with sad strokes:
Some people fell dead on the side of the road, others lay dying in the street, poor babies were starving, but their mother's withered body could no longer feed them. Everyone can see death in the faces of poor people everywhere. They are haggard and weak. If we don't take good care of them, death will take away some of them at any time, and even eat those dead animals, which may bring them plague.
The famine reduced the population of Scotland by about 15%. In order to alleviate the food crisis, Scotland continuously imported food, which led to a large loss of hard currency, damaged the domestic credit system and led to a serious economic recession.
To make matters worse, in such difficult times, the Scots' plan to expand overseas colonies also suffered a heavy failure.
Faced with the strict trade barriers of European countries and the closed colonial door of England, Scots once had a strong desire to explore their own colonies. 1695, the Scots were founded? Scottish Africa, East India and West India Trading Company? . Shortly thereafter, the Darien Plan, which colonized the Isthmus of Central America, was adopted by the company. Darren, located in the present Panama Canal area, is the main road to guard North and South America. The vision of this plan is to establish a colony in the isthmus and make it a commercial transit point connecting the Pacific trade circle and the Atlantic trade circle.
After the plan was confirmed, the company began to raise funds from various channels. However, the British Parliament was worried that the plan would affect Britain's monopoly position in the colonial trade system and reduce national income, and passed a resolution to withdraw all British capital. William III courts also strongly resisted this plan. Although the Darren region is a virgin land, it is connected with Spain's American colonial empire, and Spain has long regarded it as its own. William III is busy with the war against France, and urgently needs Spain as an ally against Louis XIV. The royal family not only blocked the Darren plan in every way, but also issued a decree prohibiting the British colonial authorities from helping the Scots.
At this time, the Scots are isolated, and all they are pregnant with is enthusiasm and incomparable courage. Even so, in the spring of 1696, the bourgeoisie in Edinburgh and Glasgow paid everything for this adventure plan and invested a lot of money. 1698 In July, the colonial fleet of the Scottish company set sail with the hope of the whole country, arrived at its destination the following year and successfully established a colony, which cheered the whole country. But then, disasters followed: the isthmus was densely forested and rivers crisscrossed, making it difficult to open up trade routes. Hunger and rampant tropical diseases keep the death rate of people in residential areas high, and the Spanish attack and Britain's inaction make this adventure even more irreversible. 1700, the Scottish company had to terminate the plan.
The failure of the Darren Plan was a fatal blow to Scotland's already fragile economic system. Scotland lost 2,000 people and153,000 pounds, accounting for about 1/4 of Scotland's total working capital. (1707, when the monetary system was changed, the total domestic currency circulation in Scotland did not exceed 4 10 1000.) Hard currency in Scotland was consumed in large quantities during the famine, which brought the economy to the brink of collapse.
The road to merger
Darren's fiasco ignited the anger that had been brewing in Scotland for many years. All walks of life in Scotland generally question the current joint and several system. 1603 has not brought any benefits to Scotland at all, but will only gradually stifle the relatively weak Scotland. At this time, even those who have always supported the court began to accuse Scotland of unfair treatment. Patriots are more fierce and smash the joint relationship since 1603. Andrew, a famous Scottish writer and politician? Did Fletcher use it? A farm managed by servants, away from the master's sight? The famous metaphor used to describe the situation in Scotland was widely circulated in all walks of life in Scotland and became the knowledge of Scots at that time.
In the same period in Britain, the issue of rebuilding relations between the two countries has also been pushed to the forefront. 1700, the last heir of Mary's sister Princess Anne died, and the English royal family also perished. 170 1 year, the British Parliament promulgated the Reconciliation Act, which stipulated that after Anne's death, the British throne would be inherited by the Protestant Hanover royal family to prevent the Catholic descendants of James II from coming back. However, the Scottish Parliament, which has long been dissatisfied with England's arrogant and overbearing attitude, declared that the law of succession does not apply to Scotland.
In view of the James II Party's great influence in Scotland, the English people are worried that once the joint model of the throne collapses, there will be a pro-Catholic and pro-French Scotland. At this point, the relationship between England and Scotland is facing a major test, and a reshuffle is inevitable.
1702, the parliament of England held preliminary consultations with Scottish representatives on the issue of complete merger, which ended in failure. What do the British want to achieve? Integration and merger? The Scottish Parliament was abolished, and the Scots wanted to reach some form? Confederacy Joint, but can't come up with a practical implementation plan.
170304, driven by strong anti-British sentiment, the Scottish Parliament passed bills against England one after another, and the relationship between the two countries was in danger of complete breakdown. England immediately responded harshly. 1705 In March, the Parliament of England passed the Aliens Act, stipulating that Scotland must send commissioners to negotiate with England on complete merger before Christmas of that year. The mode of joint throne can be maintained, but the inheritance right of Hanover royal family must be recognized. Otherwise, all Scots living in England will be regarded as foreigners and their property will be confiscated. The bill also prohibits the import of Scottish livestock, flax and coal, and prohibits the export of wool and military equipment to Scotland; British frigates will stop trade between Scotland and France. This is not so much a bill as an ultimatum and a naked threat.
After the introduction of the Aliens Act, people from all walks of life in Scotland were furious and public sentiment was almost out of control. In the same month, Edinburgh authorities publicly pronounced and executed the captain Green and two sailors of the British merchant ship Wocester on charges of pirates attacking the merchant ship of the Scottish company. The Vo Ceste incident embodies the anger of Scots and makes England realize that political goals can't be achieved by intimidation alone. In order to ease the tension, England revoked this bill in June 5438+065438+ 10.
For Scottish politicians, although the stick of British economic sanctions has not fallen, they have already felt the chill. At this time, the economic situation in Scotland is in a mess, and the Bank of Scotland just went bankrupt on 1704. If Britain imposes economic sanctions, the country will be in a desperate situation. At the end of the same year, the Scottish Parliament reorganized its delegation to discuss the merger with England.
At this time, the position of Scottish parliamentarians who originally opposed the merger plan has quietly changed. 1704, some members claimed that no one in parliament supported the complete merger plan of England. But by the end of 1706, a considerable number of Scottish parliamentarians had yearned for it. Many people accuse England of bribing the Scottish political elite through naked political bribery, while others think that the court used its superb political control skills. But economic factors deserve our special attention.
Count Roxburgh, an important figure in parliament, wrote in a letter in June1705165438+10:? Trade accounts for a large part of the purpose, and the rest is the Hanover royal family, some for comfort and security, and some for aversion to civil strife, unbearable poverty and continuous oppression? Another important political figure, the Earl of Seifield, has not forgotten the economic factors? I think the positive factors of the merger with England are: England will benefit us in trade and other aspects, which other countries can't do?
It can be seen that the economic prospect is the key reason why legislators turn to support the merger. It should be pointed out that this kind of approval motivation is a strange mixture of public interests and personal interests, and it is difficult to distinguish which is based on the country's development prospects and which is based on its own economic interests. There are many landlords in the parliament. These people own farms, pastures, saltworks and mines, and are mainly engaged in the management of agricultural and mining commodities. If the complete merger is reached, they will gain more trade opportunities and market share and become the primary beneficiary group. But if the Aliens Act is implemented, they will also be the first victims. What's more, some nobles also own large estates in England through marriage or purchase.
But no matter what considerations prevail, the merger is imminent and must be carried out. Scottish parliamentarians all know the difficult situation facing this country: if the existing model of joint throne is maintained, the poverty and weakness in Scotland will not be alleviated; If a vague federalism recognized by Scots is implemented, the English will still regard Scotland as a potential threat and curb its development; If the joint relationship with England is completely cut off, England will relentlessly carry out economic sanctions and even military strikes. At this time, Scotland did not even have the financial resources to form an army to defend itself. If soldiers meet, how to deal with them? Apart from accepting full merger, it is difficult for Scottish politicians to find a better way to safeguard national interests. Although the merger has hurt the national feelings of Scots, from a rational point of view, it is the best way to save the country from poverty and backwardness.
1707 65438+1October 16, in the Scottish Parliament Hall, with 1 10 votes in favor and 4 1 votes against, all the provisions of the Merger Treaty were passed. The final merger treaty * * * includes 25 formal clauses and 3 additional clauses, of which as many as 15 are related to economy. This clause gives Scots freedom of trade; The restrictions of the Navigation Law have been lifted; Remove tariff barriers; It also stipulates that England should allocate funds as compensation for Scotland's share of English national debt. In fact, the fund is also used to compensate Scottish investors who suffered economic losses in the Darren Plan. In addition, the treaty also includes the content that Scotland collects lighter taxes and invests in Scotland's industrial development every year.
On May 1 of the same year, the treaty of merger between England and the Kingdom of Scotland came into effect, and both the Kingdom of Scotland and the Scottish Parliament became a thing of the past.
In the 1920s, the modern Scottish nationalist movement began to rise. After World War II, the Scottish National Party, which advocated independence, gained power in Parliament. In the 1980s, the Conservative Party led by Thatcher proposed a compromise plan to allow Scotland to have regional councils, but the central government reserved the right to cancel them, which was accepted by most political parties in Scotland. 1997, the British held a referendum on the Scottish regional parliament bill, and 75% of the voters accepted the compromise plan. The following year, the British * * * promulgated the Scottish Act, and the Scottish Parliament, which had disappeared for nearly 300 years, was restored.
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After the merger, the vast English market and its colonies all over the world opened their arms to the Scots. However, the merger still went through a painful running-in period, and it was not until the political situation stabilized that the long-awaited great development situation came. /kloc-In the second half of the 8th century, the Scottish economy began to take off miraculously, and entered the industrial revolution after 1783. At the same time, the intelligentsia in Scotland has sprouted brilliantly? Scottish Enlightenment? A large number of outstanding thinkers such as Adam Smith and david hume were born. In this process, the inflow of capital, technology and ideas from Britain contributed greatly. Only then did the long-term benefits of integration with England fully show themselves to the Scots.
For a long time, the merger of 1707 has been criticized by Scottish nationalists, but the fact is that high national sentiment cannot make Scotland a European power. From the second half of17th century to the beginning of18th century, the Scottish economy was at an important turning point in its development.
Since the Middle Ages, the traditional trade relationship with the European continent has been decadent; On the contrary, the Scottish economy is increasingly dependent on England. By 1700, the export of cattle, sheep, flax, coal and salt to England became the largest export trade in Scotland, accounting for about 40% of the total export. Under the background at that time, only by expanding the trade with England and participating in the colonial trade of England could the Scottish economy be saved and the Scottish nation prosper.
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Those Scottish politicians who voted for the merger of the two countries in Parliament from 65438 to 0707 viewed the opportunities in front of them with a pragmatic attitude rather than extreme emotions. Although they were criticized and accused, although this move was indeed mixed with personal interests, they made a wise and crucial choice at this critical historical moment.