Scottish Emigration 1830s-1939 Flashcards
Name 3 push factors that encouraged migration from Scotland
1) Poor urban living conditions
2) Overcrowding and disease
3) Up to 1867, and Scot convicted of a crime could be sent to Australia
Describe 4 changes to rural life that encouraged emigration from Scotland
1) Advanced machinery meant there were fewer jobs
2) Land rent increased to pay for improvements, poor farmers could not afford to stay
3) Farm pay was low, many left for factories which paid more
4) Cheap food imports and bad harvests led many to leave.
Describe Highland poverty
1) It was difficult to grow crops on the land
2) Failure of fishing, linen & kelp industries led to high unemployment, esp. after WWI
3) The potato blight of 1847 left many close to starvation
4) Many wanted to leave to improve their quality of life
What did landlords want to replace small farm holders with?
Sheep or deer
If crofters didn’t leave due to the harsh conditions, what could happen?
They could be forcibly evicted
How did missionary work impact emigration?
1) Some emigrants hoped to spread Christianity
2) Church of Scotland trained and financed emigrant missionaries
3) Alexander Duff set up schools and universities in India
What role did emigration societies play?
1) William Quarrier’s charity sent orphaned children to Canada
2) YMCA was active in helping boys emigrate 1900-1950
3) British Women’s Emig Assoc helped middle-class educated women emigrate
4) Highlands and Islands Emigration Society assisted many to move to Australia and Canada
What role did Government schemes play?
1) Overseas Settlement Committee (1919) helped ex-soldiers to emigrate
2) The Empire Settlement Act 1922 - funds for those emigrating
3) Some landowners would pay crofters to leave, landowners could get govt help to do so
4) Emigration Act 1851 supported poorer emigrants
Describe economic opportunities for emigration
1) In America and Canada land was plentiful and offered on a loan basis
2) In Australia and NZ, cattle and sheep farming was a prosperous industry
3) Gold rushes in California (1849), Australia (1851) and NZ (1861)
What were the economic and land opportunities that encouraged emigration?
1) Building roads, schools, and churches in the colonies created jobs
2) Wages were higher and living conditions better in the New World
3) Family & friends sent back letters telling of great success
4) Newspaper advertising encouraged emigration
5) Governments offered land and help with cost of travel
