SCOTLAND’S IMPORTANTS DATES

1603
The Union of the Crowns
James VI succeeded the throne at just 13 months old after Mary was forced
to abdicate. When Elizabeth I died with no heir, James VI succeeded to the
English throne and became James VI & I – a historic move that’s now
known as the Union of the Crowns.
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1707
The Act of Union
In 1707 The Act of Union brought Scotland even closer to Britain by
creating a single Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain at the
Palace of Westminster.
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1979
Referendum for the Scottish Parliament
The calls for more devolved powers had been growing for decades and
resulted in a referendum in 1979. Its purpose was the creation of a Scottish
parliament. It failed.
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1997
Vote for Scottish Parliament
A second referendum was held in September 1997, with the vote delivering
greater powers. In 1999 the Scottish Parliament reconvened for the first
time in nearly 300 years, ushering in a new era for the Scottish people.
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2011
Scottish Parliament
The 2011 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011
to elect 129 members to the Scottish Parliament.
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2014
Road to Referendum
In 2012, the Edinburgh Agreement was signed by Scotland's First Minister
Alex Salmond and UK Prime Minister David Cameron. It paved the way for
a once in a generation referendum on Scottish independence in 2014 by
confirming the Scottish Parliament’s power to hold a vote that will be
respected by both governments.
On the 18 September 2014, the people of Scotland voted. In response to
the question, 'Should Scotland be an independent country', 1,617,989
(45%) voted Yes and 2,001,926 (55%) voted No.