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The Act of Union is ratified by the Scottish Parliament

The Treaty of Union is the name usually now given to the treaty which led to the creation of the new political state of Great Britain.

The Treaty of Union is the name usually now given to the treaty which led to the creation of the new political state of Great Britain. The treaty, effective since 1707, brought the Kingdom of England (which already included Wales) and the Kingdom of Scotland together to be "United into One Kingdom by the Name of Great Britain". At the time it was more often referred to as the Articles of Union.

The Treaty details were agreed on 22 July 1706, and separate Acts of Union were then passed by the parliaments of England and Scotland to put the agreed Articles into effect. The Treaty of Union was eventually passed in the Parliament of Scotland.

Historical Significance

The Treaty of Union is the name usually now given to the treaty which led to the creation of the new political state of Great Britain.

Events Before

  1. Battle at Fraustadt: Swedish army beats Russia and Saxon forces, one of Swedish's Greatest victories in the Great Northe

    Battle at Fraustadt: Swedish army beats Russia and Saxon forces, one of Swedish's Greatest victories in the Great Northern War

  2. Vienna's Wiener Stadtbank established

    The Wiener Stadtbank or Wiener Stadtbanco (lit. 'Municipal Bank of Vienna') was an Austrian municipal bank which in 1762 became the first note-issuing bank of the Habsburg monarchy.

  3. Tekle Haymanot I takes the throne as Emperor of Ethiopia, upon the retirement and/or abdication of his father, Iyasu I,

    Tekle Haymanot I takes the throne as Emperor of Ethiopia, upon the retirement and/or abdication of his father, Iyasu I, at 21

  4. Emperor Jozef I becomes monarch of Cologne and Bavaria

    Emperor Jozef I becomes monarch of Cologne and Bavaria

  5. Benjamin Franklin is born

    Benjamin Franklin founding father and polymath, known for american founding father and polymath, was born on 1706-01-17. Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 [O.S.

Events After

  1. Future Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI (32) marries Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (16) at the church of Sa

    Future Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI (32) marries Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (16) at the church of Santa María del Mar, Barcelona

  2. Great Northern War: Charles XII of Sweden stops his march to conquer Moscow outside Smolensk, the turning point in the w

    Great Northern War: Charles XII of Sweden stops his march to conquer Moscow outside Smolensk, the turning point in the war

  3. Spanish treasure fleet led by the San José and loaded with gold, sinks after a British squadron attacks off the coast of

    Spanish treasure fleet led by the San José and loaded with gold, sinks after a British squadron attacks off the coast of Colombia (rediscovered in 2015)

  4. Slave revolt in Newton, Long Island NY results in 11 deaths

    Slave revolt in Newton, Long Island NY results in 11 deaths

  5. James Francis Edward Stuart, Prince of Wales, attempts to land at Firth of Forth, Scotland, but is turned away by the Br

    James Francis Edward Stuart, Prince of Wales, attempts to land at Firth of Forth, Scotland, but is turned away by the British Royal Navy

More from the 1700s

Protestant Western Europe, except England, begins to use the Gregorian calendar

The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It went into effect in October 1582 following the papal bull Inter gravissimas issued by Pope Gregory XIII, which introduced it...

John V succeeds his father, Peter II, as King of Portugal

Dom John V (Portuguese: João Francisco António José Bento Bernardo; 22 October 1689 – 31 July 1750), known as the Magnanimous (o Magnânimo) and the Portuguese Sun King (o Rei-Sol Português), was King…

Great Northern War begins in Northern Europe between Denmark–Norway, Saxony, Russia, and the Swedish Empire

Great Northern War begins in Northern Europe between Denmark–Norway, Saxony, Russia, and the Swedish Empire

Queen Anne of England knights scientist Isaac Newton at Trinity College, Cambridge

Sir Isaac Newton (4 January [O.S. 25 December] 1643 – 31 March [O.S. 20 March] 1727) was an English polymath who was a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, author and…

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 16, 1707?
The Treaty of Union is the name usually now given to the treaty which led to the creation of the new political state of Great Britain. The treaty, effective since 1707, brought the Kingdom of England (which already included Wales) and the Kingdom of Scotland together to be "United into One Kingdom by the Name of Great Britain". At the time it was more often referred to as the Articles of Union.
Why is The Act of Union is ratified by the Scottish Parliament significant?
The Treaty of Union is the name usually now given to the treaty which led to the creation of the new political state of Great Britain.

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January 16 in HistoryYear 1707