Quote:
Originally Posted by Northumbrian
Come on! It only happened to safeguard England from a possible attack from the French via Scotland. The Scots often supported the French against England.
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Because the English invaded them and tried to conquer them, I believe the Auld alliance was started by Robert the Bruce. There was no danger of this in 1707, there was certainly an element of guarding against the Jacobites who drew alot of support in Scotland.
But the poor defences of Scotland in the 08, 15, 19 and 45 risings show that this was not the Westminister Whig oligarch's first priority in having the union, so much as being able to better legally dominate over the Scottish gentry, as they had the English gentry such as those from Northumbria, and try and squish Jacobitism and Episcopalianism. Plus they envisioned some other material benefits.