Alien Act 1705
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox UK legislation
The Alien Act 1705 (3 & 4 Ann. c. 6)Template:Efn was an act of the Parliament of England in February 1705, as a response to the Parliament of Scotland's Act of Security 1704, which in turn was partially a response to the English Act of Settlement 1701 (12 & 13 Will. 3. c. 2). Lord Godolphin, the Lord High Treasurer, was instrumental in the Union of 1707 and all the acts leading up to it. The Alien Act was passed to prevent the inconveniences that would occur hastily if these two Kingdoms were not to become one Union.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The act provided that Scottish nationals in England were to be treated as aliens (foreign nationals), and estates held by Scots would be treated as alien property,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> making inheritance much less certain. It also included an embargo on the import of Scottish products into England and English colonies – about half of Scotland's trade, covering goods such as linen, cattle and coal.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> There was also an embargo on the export of arms, ammunition, and horses to Scotland so that they could not raise an army and invade England.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The act contained a provision that it would be suspended if the Scots entered into negotiations regarding a proposed union of the parliaments of Scotland and England. The Act demanded that a settlement of succession or authorise union negotiation by December 25, 1705.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Scots insisted that the act be repealed before entering into treaty negotiations.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In late December, news that both the Commons and the Lords had agreed to repeal the act reached the north.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Combined with English financial offers to refund Scottish losses on the Darien scheme, the act achieved its aim, leading to the Acts of Union 1707 uniting the two countries as the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Subsequent developments
The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1867 (30 & 31 Vict. c. 59).
Notes
References
Template:English legislation Template:Authority control
Template:England-hist-stub Template:Scotland-poli-stub Template:England-statute-stub
- Acts of the Parliament of England 1705
- 1705 in law
- 1700s in British law
- 1705 in England
- 1705 in Scotland
- Political history of England
- Political history of Scotland
- Economic history of England
- Economic history of Scotland
- Trade in Scotland
- England–Scotland relations
- Trade in England
- Economic sanctions
- British nationality law
- Immigration legislation
- Scottish expatriates in England