ISSUE 1: Emigration Pull Factors

In 1851, the government passed the Emigration Act, this made emigration more freely available to the poorest, with the government providing assistance in their passage abroad.

This was a reason for the migration of Scots because this act allowed all Scots to travel abroad and start a new life, often in places like Canada or Australia where there were better opportunities for Scots. This encouraged Scots to emigrate as Scots have not been offered these kinds of opportunities before.

As Scottish communities developed in countries abroad, some Scots were attracted by the promise of some familiarity in these lands of opportunity.

This was a reason for the migration of Scots because Scots knew there were already Scottish communities in other countries, this made the move feel less risky as Scots could find people with the same language and culture as them, giving Scots a sense of comfort, encouraging them to emigrate abroad.

Many Scots were promised free and cheap land abroad, especially in Canada as they were skilled farmers so took up this opportunity.

This was a reason for the migration of Scots because many Scots living in rural areas were struggling with poverty and limited opportunities to farm their own land so the chance of owning land abroad encouraged Scots to move abroad.

The Highland Emigration Society was set up to help immigrants settle abroad, this encouraged Scots to move as they were provided with support to migrate abroad.

This was a reason for the migration of Scots because many Scottish families were extremely poor and poverty-ridden. The Highland Emigration Society helped Scots to emigrate, encouraging Scots to emigrate abroad in hope to receive better job opportunities and a general better standard of living.

A key reason so many skilled Scots left is because they knew they could command higher wages in countries abroad than they could in Scotland.

This was a reason for the migration of Scots because many Scots had little money to provide for themselves and their families whilst living in the rural areas of Scotland such as the Highlands, so moved abroad in hope to receive more money to help support their loved ones.

The Gold Rush (discovery of gold) in Australia was a chance for Scots to try their luck and become rich, thus encouraging many Scots to migrate to Australia.

This was a reason for the migration of Scots because in Scotland, many Scots faced poverty and wealth was not common, the Gold Rush offered a chance for Scots to escape poverty and make a fortune quickly, so many migrated abroad for this reason.

Families and friends of Scots who had already migrated abroad sent letters home encouraging others to migrate too.

This was a reason for the migration of Scots because Scots felt sad that they were not surrounded by their families so migrated abroad to places like Canada and Australia to be near them.

Emigration Agencies were actively working to attract emigrants, New Zealand and Australian authorities work was widespread, offering free passages and other inducements.

This was a reason for the migration of Scots because most Scots didn't have enough money to migrate abroad, so the offers made by the Emigration Agents was a great opportunity for Scots to move abroad, therefore many migrated because of this.

The transport revolution meant that travel times and cost greatly reduced due to the steamship, the journey across the Atlantic was cut from 6-8 weeks to 1 week.

This was a reason for the migration of Scots because the transport revolution made travel faster and cheaper, so it was easier and more affordable for Scots to move abroad and start a new life.

Newspapers advertised opportunities abroad which many Scot's could not refuse, in addition, literacy rates were increasing which meant more people were reading these newspapers.

This was a reason for the migration of Scots because many Scots living in rural areas did not have access to these exciting opportunities, so moved abroad to experience them.