What is Union of the Crowns?
[[Image:Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg|thumb|<small>[[Union Flag]] used in the Kingdom of England, 1606–1707.</small>]] [[File:Union jack proposed.jpg|thumb|Earlier proposed flags]] The '''Union of the Crowns''' ({{lang-gd|Aonadh nan Crùintean}}; {{lang-sco|Union o the Crouns}}) was the [[Coronation|accession]] of [[James VI and I|James VI of Scotland]] to the throne of the Kingdom of England as James I. It is also the consequential unification for some purposes (such as overseas diplomacy) of the two realms under a single monarch on 24 March 1603. In its turn, the English Parliament responded with the [[Alien Act 1705]]. This threatened to impose economic sanctions and declare Scottish subjects [[alien (law)|aliens]] in England, unless Scotland either repealed the Act of Security or moved to unite with England.<ref>Green, p. 134; Somerset, pp. 277–278</ref> The Estates chose the latter option; the English Parliament agreed to repeal the Alien Act,<ref>Somerset, p. 296</ref> and new commissioners were appointed by [[Queen Anne I]] in early 1706 to negotiate the terms of a union.<ref>Gregg, pp. 202, 214</ref> The articles of union approved by the commissioners were presented to Anne on 23 July 1706.<ref>Somerset, p. 297</ref> Then it was ratified by the Scottish and English Parliaments on 16 January and 6 March 1707, respectively.<ref>Gregg, p. 239; Somerset, pp. 315–316</ref> Under the [[Acts of Union 1707|Acts of Union]], England and Scotland were united into a single kingdom called Great Britain, with one parliament, on 1 May 1707.<ref>Gregg, p. 240</ref> ==Related pages== * [[Commonwealth realm]] * [[Imperial Federation]] ==References== {{Reflist|2}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:British monarchy]]