Higher Migration and Empire - reasons for emigrant scots' success

1. Migration &
Empire,
1830-1939
Reasons that many emigrant
Scots were successful

2. In today’s class I am learning to:
• Explain why many emigrant Scots were
successful in their new homes
Success of emigrant Scots

3. The Scots who emigrated to other parts of the
British Empire often built new and successful lives
for themselves, although on occasion did not.
Success of emigrant Scots

4. Emigrant Scots succeeded
for many reasons, such as:
• Nationality
• Language
• Education
• Reputation
• Skills
• Setting up businesses
• Other Scots
Success of emigrant Scots

5. Scottish people being part
of Britain gave them a
huge advantage when
they looked to build new
lives overseas.
The British government
needed to build its empire
so often recruited workers
directly from different
parts of Britain.
Success of emigrant Scots

6. Britain’s government gave
help to Scots who wanted
to move elsewhere in the
Empire.
This included paying for
travel, subsidising the cost
of buying land and
offering training. All of this
made it easier for Scots to
make the journey.
Success of emigrant Scots

7. There were also jobs
running the British Empire
which were expected to
be done by British people.
This included acting as
governors and in civil
service roles in places
such as Australia and
India, all of which helped
Scots to get work abroad.
Success of emigrant Scots

8. There are various
examples of emigrant
Scots involved in politics.
John A MacDonald, the
first Prime Minister of
Canada was born in
Scotland. Andrew Fisher
of Ayrshire became Prime
Minister of Australia.
Success of emigrant Scots

9. The Scots speaking English
also helped them succeed
abroad.
Many jobs in different
overseas companies were
run by British people and
so the ability to speak
their language made it
easier to get a job, and
also promotion.
Success of emigrant Scots

10. The Scots’ commitment to
education is shown in
efforts to spread this.
Scots set up schools in
various countries. They
also set up universities,
such as the University of
Otago (New Zealand) and
McGill University
(Canada).
Success of emigrant Scots

11. The Scottish education
system also helped
migrant Scots succeed.
Most Scots had a higher
standard of basic literacy
and numeracy than even
people from elsewhere in
Britain. Again this made
the Scots good employees
when firms recruited.
Success of emigrant Scots

12. Scottish emigrants built a
positive reputation for
themselves. They were
seen as being hard
working and also seen as
careful with money.
All of this made businesses
more likely to hire Scottish
workers, again making it
easier to succeed.
Success of emigrant Scots

13. In 1885, one small town
mayor in Australia is said
to have believed the Scots
were good workers,
remarking to an English
visitor:
“We want more Scots.
Give us Scots. Give us the
whole population of
Glasgow.”
Success of emigrant Scots

14. Many Scots earned
higher wages than they
had back done in
Scotland.
This meant that these
people could have
better lives than had
been the case in
Scotland, even whilst
still doing the same jobs.
Success of emigrant Scots

15. Scots who moved abroad
also succeed because they
often had the skills which
were needed to find work.
Many Scots that sought to
leave the country had
worked as farmers or in
mines, and there were
many jobs available
overseas in this work.
Success of emigrant Scots

16. Other Scots had scientific
knowledge, leading to
new inventions, such as
the telephone.
Some Scots had trained in
professional roles such as
lawyers and doctors. The
need for such workers in
the Empire made it easier
for Scots to succeed.
Success of emigrant Scots

17. The skills of professional
Scots made them in
demand in various areas.
Dr John Hutchison studied
medicine in Scotland and
moved to Peterborough in
Canada. He was the town’s
first doctor and had a
house built for him by
local residents.
Success of emigrant Scots

18. Many Scots set up
businesses. This made
them wealthy, and created
jobs for others.
Prominent examples of
this include Andrew
Carnegie’s steel company
in the USA and Robert
McCracken’s brewing
company in Australia.
Success of emigrant Scots

19. The existence of Scottish
communities in different
countries also helped the
Scots succeed.
This meant that Scots
could emigrate to places
they knew people and
could replicate their
Scottish lives, such as
religious worship.
Success of emigrant Scots

20. Presbyterian churches
were opened up across
the world, including
Canada and Australia.
The Reverend Thomas
Burns, nephew of the poet
Robert, helped set up
churches in Dunedin in
New Zealand, becoming a
community leader.
Success of emigrant Scots

21. In addition, there were
other Scottish cultural
organisations established.
Burns Societies were
found in countries such as
Australia and Canada.
In addition, shinty and
Highland Games
competitions were set up.
Success of emigrant Scots

22. Other Scots gave financial
help and charity to help
struggling emigrant Scots.
Many Scottish clubs - such
as the Caledonian Society
of Vancouver - held
charity events (such as
dances) and then used
these funds to support
Scots facing problems.
Success of emigrant Scots

23. However not all emigrant
Scots did find a better life
in their new homes.
Evidence such as diaries
from Scottish settlers
show that many faced
problems such as poverty,
unemployment and also
loneliness due to often
living in isolated areas.
Success of emigrant Scots

24. Some of these Scots
described their problems
in letters home to friends
and family.
Others even made the
long journey back to
Scotland, although others
could not afford to do so
and were stuck in
unhappy lives overseas.
Success of emigrant Scots