Disarming Act 1715 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An act for the more effectual securing the peace of the highlands in Scotland. |
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| Citation | 1 Geo. 1. St. 2. c. 54 |
| Dates | |
| Commencement | 1 November 1716 |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Highlands Services Act 1715, also known as the Disarming Act 1715, was an important law passed in Great Britain in the 18th century. It was created to help control the Jacobite movement among the Scottish clans in the Scottish Highlands. This law came into effect on November 1, 1716. Its main goal was to "secure the peace" in the Highlands of Scotland.
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What Was the Disarming Act?
This law made it illegal for people in certain parts of Scotland to own or carry weapons. These weapons included things like broadswords, daggers, pistols, and muskets. The only way someone could have these weapons was if they had special permission. The government hoped this would stop future uprisings.
Why Was This Law Needed?
The Act was passed after the Jacobite rising of 1715. This was a rebellion by people who supported the return of the Stuart royal family to the throne of Great Britain. The Stuarts had lost the throne in 1688. Many Scottish clans in the Highlands supported the Stuarts, and the government wanted to prevent them from rebelling again. By taking away their weapons, the government aimed to make the Highlands more peaceful.
How Effective Was the Law?
At first, the Disarming Act of 1715 did not work very well. It was hard to make everyone follow the new rules. So, in 1725, a new law was passed. This new law was also about "disarming the highlands."
A military leader named Major-General George Wade was put in charge of enforcing this new law. He worked hard to take away many weapons from the Highlanders. However, when Bonnie Prince Charlie started another Jacobite uprising in 1745, many Highlanders still joined him. They often had older weapons, but they quickly got newer ones from the British Army after winning a battle at Prestonpans.
What Happened Next?
After Bonnie Prince Charlie's forces were defeated at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the government made the laws even stricter. The main parts of the Disarming Act were strengthened by another law called the Act of Proscription 1746. This showed how determined the government was to control the Highlands and prevent any more Jacobite rebellions.
