Union and Empire: The Making of the United Kingdom in 1707

The making of the United Kingdom in 1707 is still a matter of significant political and historical controversy. Allan Macinnes here offers a major new interpretation that sets the Act of Union within a broad European and colonial context and provides a comprehensive picture of its transatlantic and transoceanic ramifications that ranged from the balance of power to the balance of trade. He reexamines English motivations from a colonial as well as a military perspective and assesses the imperial significance of the creation of the United Kingdom. He also explores afresh the commitment of some determined Scots to secure Union for political, religious and opportunist reasons and shows that rather than an act of statesmanship, the resultant Treaty of Union was the outcome of politically inept negotiations by the Scots. Union and Empire will be a major contribution to the history of Britain, empire and early modern state formation.

• A major new interpretation of the 1707 Act of Union, placing it within a European and colonial context • By a leading authority on seventeenth century Scotland • Will appeal to scholars and students of Scottish history, early modern British and European history and imperial history

Part I. Setting the Scenes: 1. Introduction; 2. The historiography; Part II. Varieties of Union, 1603–1707: 3. Precedents, 1603–1660; 4. Projects, 1661–1703; 5. The Irish dimension; Part III. The Primacy of Political Economy, 1625–1707: 6. The transatlantic dimension; 7. The Scottish question; 8. Going Dutch?; Part IV. Party Alignments and the Passage of Union: 9. Jacobitism and the war of the British succession, 1701–05; 10. Securing the Votes, 1706–07; Part V. Conclusion: 11. The Treaty of Union.