UNION W/SCOTLAND:
England/Scotland were entirely different kingdoms. Changed dramatically after J1 took the throne (1603).
Sharing the same monarch is known as the union of crowns.
J1 didn’t like this separation as he wanted a complete/perfect union that brought the 2 kingdoms into a
single, enlarged/unified state.
May 1603 – J1 had only been in England for a few weeks. He prepared the way by issuing a proclamation for
the uniting of England/Scotland.
A commission (group) of English/Scottish MP’s was set up in October 1604 to consider how a perfect union
may be achieved, talks lasted between November 1606 to July 1607. J1 knew the process wouldn’t be
quick/easy but he had high hopes. Westminster wasn’t keen on the unification of laws, economies and P’s of
both kingdoms. The commission agreed to cancel the hostile laws against the Scots, but there was no union.
J1 accepted defeat on the issue but never forgave the English P. Due to this, he declared his title to be King of
Great Britain (October 1604) and not by the divided names.
1606 – J1 orders for a British flag to be created which combined both kingdom’s flags. Resulted in the Union
Jack, Jack being a shortening of Jacobus, the Latin version of James.
England/Scotland were entirely different kingdoms. Changed dramatically after J1 took the throne (1603).
Sharing the same monarch is known as the union of crowns.
J1 didn’t like this separation as he wanted a complete/perfect union that brought the 2 kingdoms into a
single, enlarged/unified state.
May 1603 – J1 had only been in England for a few weeks. He prepared the way by issuing a proclamation for
the uniting of England/Scotland.
A commission (group) of English/Scottish MP’s was set up in October 1604 to consider how a perfect union
may be achieved, talks lasted between November 1606 to July 1607. J1 knew the process wouldn’t be
quick/easy but he had high hopes. Westminster wasn’t keen on the unification of laws, economies and P’s of
both kingdoms. The commission agreed to cancel the hostile laws against the Scots, but there was no union.
J1 accepted defeat on the issue but never forgave the English P. Due to this, he declared his title to be King of
Great Britain (October 1604) and not by the divided names.
1606 – J1 orders for a British flag to be created which combined both kingdom’s flags. Resulted in the Union
Jack, Jack being a shortening of Jacobus, the Latin version of James.
