Explain the reasons for Scottish migration (8 marks)
One reason for Scottish migration was the potato blight, this was when the potato crop
failed, and the blight made the potatoes black and inedible. This was a reason for scots to
migrate as potatoes were a main food source and without this, they faced possible
starvation if they did not migrate.
A second reason for Scottish migration was the Highland Clearances, this was when the
population in the highlands grew significantly and with this they got less and less money to
live on, they got paid less and therefore couldn’t afford the growing rent rates and were
forced to leave their homes and became unemployed. This was a reason for Scottish
migration as if they stayed then they would be homeless and unemployed meaning they
were forced to leave.
A third reason for Scottish migration was the industrialisation of farming, this meant
machinery replaced people and done the jobs quicker and meant they didn’t need to pay
wages, this meant more and more people became unemployed. This was a reason for
Scottish migration as people would be unemployed if they stayed and moved to other places
in the country where their skills were still in high demand.
A fourth reason for Scottish migration was the social isolation in the highlands, those living
in the highlands didn’t have a chance to get new people and see new things, the increase in
radios and advertisements letting them know what they were missing out on meant they
wanted to migrate and have a new better quality of life. This meant they migrated as they
wanted a better life and didn’t want to be isolated anymore.
A fifth reason for Scottish migration was the education act of 1872 this meant that all
children between ages of 5 and 13 got a free education, those that lived on islands or high in
the highlands wanted this and migrated so their children could have a better quality of life
and be educated. This was a reason for Scottish migration as they wanted a better quality of
life and wanted education for their children to help them in the future.
A sixth reason for Scottish migration was the political reasons, those living in the highlands
didn’t have much of a say in their own lives and wanted to have control. They were angry
and didn’t want to stay there anymore despite there being a law they cannot be forcibly
removed from their property without a reason to do so this didn’t change their views and
they migrated still. This was a reason as they were angry and wanted control of their live
and a better standard of living and therefore migrated to get this.
A seventh reason for Scottish migration was the opportunities in England, there was many
jobs in England that appealed to the scots. There sills were in demand in some parts of
England and they wanted this better standard of living. This was a reason for Scottish
migration as they wanted a good paying job and a better standard of living that they could
get if they moved to England.
A final reason for Scottish migration was overcrowding, many scots lived in poverty with
little space for a lot of people, disease spread quickly. This was a reason for Scottish
migration as they wanted better living conditions and a better quality of life and therefore
moved from the overcrowding.
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