Emigrating Scotland: pre and post 18th century

what was the first period of emigration from Scotland

11th-13th century with the Crusades’ movement to mainland Europe to gain control of the holy land

why was there emigration from 14th-17th century

merchants and warriors escaping poverty and famine

why was there emigration in 17th century

• there was some movement from Lowland territories during the Plantation of Ulster through a planned conquest

• there was also the failed Darien Scheme

what was the Ulster Plantation Scheme

• it was the organised colonisation of a province in Ireland

• land was confiscated frmo Gaelic chiefs and colonised by wealthy landowners

what was the Darien Scheme

• planned emigration to Panama to establish a new colony called ‘New Caledonia’

• idea was to create a new global trade route

• however nearly all Scots on the mission died from attack or disease, 2000 out of 25000

what were the major push factors out of Scotland until the 17th century

• population density

• pressure on lands resources

• crop failure

• famine

what were the major pull factors away from Scotland until the 17th century

• trade

• education

• cheap land

• military adventure

why was there much opportunity for clergymen to emigrate in the 17th century

there was Scots colleges for the training of priesthood for Scottish Roman Catholics across Europe

whyw as there opportunity for military men to leave the country in the 17th century

Mercenary soliders were in demand to travel to Europe to fight for foreign governments

why were there so many Scots in Poland in the Middle Ages

• there was up to 30000 at one point according to a Polish ambassador

• because there was economic opportunity to capitalise on as Poland was an underdeveloped country with great natural resources to exploit

why is the emigration to Ulster significant

because it is the only emigrant community in the world that has retained Lowland Scots culture and language

why was there emigration in the early 18th century

middle class families and tacksmen left for Western Canada

why was there emigration to Eastern Canada in early 19th century

due to the Highland clearances and kelp failures, families sought better economic opportunities elsewhere

why was there emigration to Oceania in late 19th century

due to the potato famine and opportunity of new land

what 2 pieces of sociopolotical context account for the increased emigration from the mid-18th century onwards

• the failed Jacobite rebellions lead to the breaking up and demilitarising of the Highlander clans

• the agriculutral revolution lead to more intenisve and effective farming methods, with planned townships replacing smaller farming villages in the Highlands

why was the displacement of Highland populations more impactful than Lowland displacements

although the Lowland populations lsot more numbers, the proportion of population lost in the Highlands was greater

what were the major push factors out of Scotland in the 19th century

• steady increase of rents

• lack of secure tennancy and general land shortage

• regular famine approx every 3 years

• acive eviction by landlords

what were the major pull factors away frmo Scotland in the 18th century

• the view of the New Land as having cheap land and offering a ticket out of the feudalist system

• offers of debt dissolution and payment for passage to the New Land

• successful military figures were offered new positions and land

• much higher wages

how many Scots left Scotland between 1800 and 1900

nearly 2 million

why was there large emigration of Gaelic speaking Highlanders to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton

• collapse of the kelp industry

• collapse of the cattle industry

• rent pirces by landlords increasing as there are less returns on their land

what features of Gaelic culture can still be seen in Nova Scotia today

• Gaelic education

• story telling

• fiddings and bagpiping

• waulking songs

where did the people of North Uist emigrate to

• the tacksmen and tenants went to the Carolinas

• crofters went to Canada

• the poor went to Australia and New Zealand

what was the aftermath of the battle of Culloden in North Uist

• the clans were demilitarised and tacksmen lost their esteemed positions

• several tacksmen enticed their community yo emigrate with them to maintian the status quo and power structure in the New World

hwo can the pressures be seen in folksong/ oral culture

the song ‘Oran do na Fogarraich’ by John MacCodrum demonstrates the lack of puty from landlords onto tenants and the contrast in opportunties in the New World

how much did rents increase in North Uist

50% over a period of 8 yearsd between 1763 and 1771