[3] The political union took effect on 1 May 1707, with the Lord Chancellor of Scotland James Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Findlater, "PROROGUED" (discontinue a session of a parliament without dissolving it) "SINE DIE" (Latin for “without day.” Something done sine die has no definite date to resume) the Parliament of Scotland with the words "there’s ane end of ane auld sang" whilst the church bells of St Giles' Cathedral played the tune Why should I feel so sad on my wedding day?.

The 1688 Glorious Revolution angered many in Scotland as a result of the decision made by the Parliament of England to declare that James VII & II had "abandoned his kingdoms".

[6] In the face of opposition by English commercial interests, the Company of Scotland also raised subscriptions in Amsterdam, Hamburg, and London for its scheme.

For his part, King William III of England and II of Scotland had given only lukewarm support to the Scottish colonial endeavour.

England was also under pressure from the London-based East India Company, which was anxious to maintain its monopoly over English foreign trade.

[10] Under the aegis of the queen and her ministers in both kingdoms, in 1705 the parliaments of England and Scotland agreed to participate in fresh negotiations for a treaty of union.

It was agreed that Anne as Queen of England and Scots would appoint thirty-one Royal commissioners from each nation to conduct the negotiations.

In Scotland, the debate on occasion dissolved into civil disorder, most notably involving the notorious "Edinburgh Mob",[13] which threatened "Destruction to all the Promoters of the Union".

[14] As the Parliament of Scotland was deliberating on 22 October 1706, the session had to be suspended "because the mob was threatening to break in";[15] although this did not ultimately occur, they subsequently "attacked the house of Sir Patrick Johnston, a commissioner for union and former Lord Provost of Edinburgh.

"[15] "Troops were brought into the city with orders to shoot if necessary, and several regiments were placed at Queensberry's disposal on the Scottish border and in Ireland in the event of trouble.

Significant financial payoffs to Scottish parliamentarians were later referred to by Robert Burns when he wrote "We're bought and sold for English gold, Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation!

[22] Many Scots were angered at the apparent ignorance towards Scotland's military engagement with England in order to maintain its independence and status as an "admirably ancient and unconquered kingdom".

Subsequent riots occurred in Glasgow, and between November and December 1706, crowds gathered in both Dumfries and Stirling to publicly burn copies of the proposed treaty.

[25] Additionally, many in Scotland feared how Scottish interests, economy, trade and business could be promoted in a parliament which would have an overwhelming majority of MPs representing England.

The Scottish parliamentary debate subsequently amended the document when producing their Act of Union, which can itself be described as an offer of treaty terms.

[31]: 75-6 This position is rejected by David Walker, who argues that its treaty status is 'amply evidenced' by previous legislation, that the Articles and other legislation refer to it as a "treaty" although in the same article he does agree with Smith that the Kingdom of Scotland ceased to exist after the Acts of Union "ratified by the parliaments of the two uniting states under their domestic laws, so as to put themselves out of existence and create a new sovereign state in lieu".