1. Migration & Empire,
Success of
emigrant Scots

2. Success of emigrant Scots
In today’s class I am learning to:
Explain why many emigrant Scots were successful in their new homes
Describe evidence that shows that not all emigrant Scots were successful

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

4. Success of emigrant Scots
There were many reasons emigrant Scots succeeded:
Nationality
Language
Education
Reputation
Skills
Setting up businesses
Other Scots

5. Success of emigrant Scots
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.

6. Success of emigrant Scots
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.

7. Success of emigrant Scots
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.

8. Success of emigrant Scots
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.

9. Success of emigrant Scots
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.

10. Success of emigrant Scots
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.

11. Success of emigrant Scots
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.

12. Success of emigrant Scots
Other 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.
Other Scots had scientific knowledge, leading to new inventions, such as the telephone.

13. Success of emigrant Scots
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.

14. Success of emigrant Scots
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.

15. Success of emigrant Scots
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.

16. Success of emigrant Scots
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.