Leaving Scotland - Poverty

Lesson starter:In what ways did Irish immigrants blend in to Scottish Life? (3 marks)

Today we will…• Understand that emigration as well

as immigration occurred in Scotland• Understand why poverty was a

reason for emigrating

• Scotland seemed a land of opportunity to Irish people due to poverty and famine in Ireland

• To many Scots, it was not

• The main period of Scottish emigration happened 1830-1930

The Emigrants last sight of home’ 1858

Where did Scots go?

British EmpireAustralia, Canada, New

Zealand, India, South Africa

England

USA

Why do you think they chose these places?

Poverty• This was an

important reason for leaving

• Machines had replaced people on farms and in factories – people were out of work

• Wages were relatively low compared to countries overseas

Reasons for leaving

Scotland

There is too much

poverty in Scotland

I have no choice – I’m being sent to a convict

colony in Australia

The Depression of

the 1930s has caused

mass unemployme

nt

I have friends and family who have gone overseas. They write

and tell me how great it is

Other reasons for leaving• Little help was given to those who

were old or unemployed in Scotland• Poor conditions for farmers in

Scotland –we will look at these next day