The Scots-Irish were influential early immigrants to America who contributed greatly to developing American identity, politics, and the economy. They were strong supporters of independence and helped ensure American victory in the Revolutionary War. In politics, they led rebellions like the Whiskey Rebellion to protest taxes. Culturally, Scots-Irish music, language, and traditions have endured and influenced American culture. They settled in rural areas and pursued livelihoods like whiskey distilling. Overall, the Scots-Irish were hardy pioneers who played a major role in shaping early America.

1. Scots-Irish Hillbillies
Diversity in Early America: How The Scots-Irish Contributed to Society
US History to 1877
Professor Jarred Haas
Wentworth Institute of Technology, Summer 2016
Chris Poliseno, Dylan Elliott and Randall Barth

2. Objective
To Highlight the Scots-Irish’s contributions to:
• American Identity
• Politics
• The Economy

3. Scots-Irish Influence
"The Scotch-Irish people have been second to none in their
influence upon modern civilization. Their impress upon American
institutions has been especially strong. They have been leaders in
every sphere of life, both public and private. They were the first to
declare independence from Great Britain, and foremost in the
revolutionary struggle; leaders in the formation and adoption of
the Constitution, and its most powerful defenders; most active in
the expansion of our national domain, and the hardiest pioneers in
its development."
Robert Bonner, first President of the first Congress of the Scotch-
Irish Society of the United States, 1889

4. Who are the Scots-Irish?
• The first wave of Irish Immigrants to colonial
America.
• Ancestors originally from the lowlands of Scotland;
had migrated to Ulster, Northern Ireland.
• Practicing Protestants who left Ireland and settled in
America in the 1700’s. (Boundless.com)
• Strong, rugged, passionate, hot-tempered and hard-
working individuals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOyYQ0Wm_I
• Did not like to follow rules, made their own rules.

5. Scots-Irish: American Identity
• Immigrants left Ireland
• First settlers made permanent homes in mountains.
They liked their rugged land, not rule followers.
• Settled in rural colonies like Pennsylvania and
Virginia and through the Appalachian Mountain
region.

6. Scots-Irish: American Identity
American Revolution
• During Revolutionary War, many Scots-Irish were in the forefront.
• President Theodore Roosevelt is quoted as saying the Ulster Scots
were "a grim, stern people, strong and simple, . . . the love of
freedom rooted in their very hearts' core".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOyYQ0Wm_I
• Loyalists thought Scots-Irish would help them when they approached
the mountains, but they were actually first to sign up for war.

7. Scots-Irish: American Identity Continued
American Revolution
• Scots-Irish believed in freedom to their core, and were ready to fight
for their freedom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOyYQ0Wm_I
• Newspaper editor Colonel A.K. McClure stated that War may not have
been won without Scots-Irish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOyYQ0Wm_I

8. Scots-Irish American Identity
Music
• The Scots-Irish were a big influence on music that was brought over here to
America.
• Music was close to the Scots-Irish’s hearts and gave them a much-needed
confidence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOyYQ0Wm_I
• The most important instrument that they brought over with them was the
fiddle. Even music today uses some of the similar types of tunes that were
used hundreds of years ago.
• Ballads that were brought over from the old country are still played today.
While the Scots-Irish couldn’t bring many possessions to America, these
songs gave them comfort and helped with homesickness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOyYQ0Wm_I

9. Scots-Irish American Identity
Music
• Scots-Irish music still influences American culture today.
• Legends such as Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and others were brought
up and inspired by this music that was passed down for generations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOyYQ0Wm_I

10. Scots-Irish: American Identity
Whiskey
• The Scots-Irish lived primarily in the Appalachian region. In this
mountainous area the people’s main way to make any type of income
was whiskey.
• Distilling whiskey was a trait brought over from their homeland.
• Whiskey was most profitable way of life (more so than farming crops)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOyYQ0Wm_I

11. Scots-Irish: American Identity – Continued
Whiskey
• Scots-Irish were part of uprising for “Whiskey Rebellion” – felt that
after fighting for freedom in American Revolution, they shouldn’t
have to give their cash in taxes to the government.
• Even today you can watch a show that focuses on the lives of
moonshiners

12. Scots-Irish: American Identity
• The Scots-Irish were a very family oriented group.
• They were a cohesive unit, very proud with an argumentative spirit
• Usually they shared the same surname

13. http://www.ediblewildmusic.org/2015_08_01_archive.html
http://digitalheritage.org/2011/12/the-migration-of-the-scotch-irish-from-ulster-to-western-north-carolina/
https://www.google.com/search?q=map+of+ulster+ireland&biw=1280&bih=623&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved
=0ahUKEwijn6P67KjOAhUMchQKHWeEAJsQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=1TL-Zj_lVq5DHM%3A
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/maps/pennsylvania-map.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOyYQ0Wm_I
Sources

14. Scots-Irish: American Identity
Group Participation
The Scots-Irish Hillbillies worked together on this project as a group. The
following is a breakdown on responsibilities:
• American Identity – Chris Poliseno
• Political Issues of the Day – Dylan Elliott
• The Economy – Randall Barth
I sent out initial emails and tasks to the group. I enjoyed learning about the
Scots-Irish’s identity in American culture. Being Irish, it was interesting to
learn about the Scots-Irish, whose ancestors came to America before mine.

15. Scots – Irish political involvement

16. Scots – Irish Involvement: Political Conflicts
• Among the first to sign up to overthrow British rule on American soil for
George Washington's army.
(vihttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOyYQ0Wm_I)

17. Scots – Irish: Political Conflicts Continued:
• Scots – Irish were thought of as the lowest form of person, one step
above slaves. They were considered by the British to be below the
English, Scots and Irish.

18. Scots – Irish: Political Conflicts Continued:
• Colonel Fergusson threatened to cross Appalachia to
exterminate the people if they did not support the king. The
scots - Irish adopted the Indian warfare techniques which
allowed them to beat the British, snuffing out all hope of the
British taking the south. Was a critical turning point in the
revolutionary war for Americas victory.
(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOyYQ0Wm_I)

19. • George Washington, “If I ever had to make a last stand I
would want to stand with the over mountain boys who knew
how to shoot and fight”
(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOyYQ0Wm_I)

20. The center of the political eye:
• The whiskey rebellion, the rebellion ran from 1791 to 1794
and was due to a new cash tax on whiskey
– Whiskey was made in the hills of Scots – Irish country and was
their form of currency; it was used for bartering and trade.
– Cash was a rare commodity so a cash tax was very inconvenient.

21. The center of the political eye continued:
• The violence caused by the whiskey rebellion caused the
government to take action
– Washington was forced to march 30,000 troops into the hills of
Appalachia to crush the moonshiners who were refusing to pay
– The same government whom the Scots – Irish had just defended
years before against the British.

22. Population of Scots-Irish in the USA
• In 1790 there were 400,000 Americans that were of Irish
birth, half of them being from ulster and have from other
Irish claims, making up a small percentage of each colony
and territory of the American foreground. 47 Us presidents
claim to be of Scots Irish dissent
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch-
Irish_Americans#Population_in_1790)

23. Presidents to modern day that have Scots-Irish Blood
• Andrew Jackson
• James Knox Polk
• James Buchanan
• Ulysses S. Grant
• Chester A. Arthur
• Grover Cleveland
• William McKinley
• Theodore Roosevelt
• Woodrow Wilson
• Richard Nixon
• Jimmy Carter
• Barack Obama
• (http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Scotch-Irish.aspx)

24. Sources
• "Scots+Irish+slaves - Google Search." Scots+Irish+slaves - Google Search. N.p., n.d. Web.
05 Aug. 2016.
• "Scots+Irish+slaves - Google Search." Scots+Irish+slaves - Google Search. N.p., n.d. Web.
05 Aug. 2016.
• "Scotch-Irish." Dictionary of American History. 2003, and TOM McARTHUR. "Scotch-
Irish." Encyclopedia.com. HighBeam Research, 01 Jan. 2003. Web. 05 Aug. 2016.
• "The Appalachians: The Scotch-Irish." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Aug. 2016.

25. Scots-Irish: The Economy

26. • Exploited for labor long hours and low pay which in turn
drove labor rates down
Scots-Irish: The Economy

27. Scots-Irish: The Economy
• The Scots-Irish introduced a new crop to the colonies: the
potato. This vegetable became a staple in American diets
and many colonies were able to plant them. They even
became an abundant crop in the state of Maine, as well as
other states.
http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/how-the-scots-
irish-came-to-america-and-what-they-brought-with-them/

28. • Upset native-born laborers as they had to fight for jobs
Scots-Irish: The Economy

29. •Settled in areas that created a buffer zone between the American
settlers and the French and Indians. (Scotch-Irish)
Scots-Irish: The Economy

30. Sources
Boundless (2016). Boundless U.S. History. Retrieved from
https://www.boundless.com/u-s-history/textbooks/boundless-u-s-
history-textbook/religion-romanticism-and-cultural-reform-1820-
1860-14/immigration-118/irish-immigration-624-10431/
"Scotch-Irish." Dictionary of American History. 2003, and TOM
McARTHUR. "Scotch-Irish." Encyclopedia.com. HighBeam Research, 01
Jan. 2003. Web. 05 Aug. 2016.