Why did Scottish and Irish people emigrate to the US?

Answer 1

They did not vow allegiance to the Church of England, detesting tithing to a church they didn't support, and were governed by the Penal Laws. Those laws prevented dissenters from voting, bearing arms or serving in the military. Dissenters could not be married, baptized or buried with the assistance of any minister who was not ordained by the church of the state. To further aggravate the situation, when rents came due on many of the farms they lived on, the cost rose double -- or more. This practice was called rack-renting. Those who worked in the linen industry also suffered at this time because England had begun preventing the Irish from exporting their product beyond the mother country. Family members who had already ventured to America sent back glowing reports about the fruitful land. Ship owners sent men to the countryside to extol the benefits of emigration to the peasants. While some departed seeking adventure, most Ulster residents didn't want to leave Ireland, but their backs were against the wall. Ireland held no opportunities.

Info taken from:

http://www.barlowgenealogy.com/Resources/scots-irish.html

Answer 2

BACKGROUND

The Scotch-Irish (or Scots-Irish) were descendants of settlers in the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland. These forced settlements in the 1600s were called Plantation of Ulster. The English government thought they could pacify the "unruly" Irish Catholic natives by systematically repopulating Ireland with Protestant settlers from The Scottish lowlands, northern England, as well as Protestant refugees from Flanders and France. Since the lowland Scots made up the overwhelming majority, this new group became known as Scotch-Irish regardless of their actual ethnicity. The plantation began in Ulster, which was sparsely populated.

Life for the Scotch Irish in Ulster was tough however. Rejected by the native Irish as interlopers and treated poorly by their English overlords, the Scotch-Irish were treated little better that the native Irish Catholics. They had few rights and most were not even allowed to vote. This bad treatment combined with poor economic conditions, overpopulation, and constant conflicts with the native Irish caused many Scotch Irish to emigrate.

AMERICAN SETTLEMENT

Scotch-Irish settlement in America began in earnest in the early 1700s and peaked in the 1750s-1760s. It is estimated that over 200,000 Scotch-Irish crossed the Atlantic between 1710 and 1775, the peak years for passage. Deeply distrustful of government and with little money, most of them headed to the frontier settling in an arc running from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. Even today these areas retain a heavy Scotch-Irish influence.

At the outbreak of the Revolution, it is estimated that Scotch-Irish and their descendents accounted for 1 in every 8 white Americans and 1 in every 3 Pennsylvanians. Immigration essentially stopped during the American Revolution but resumed shortly after the end of the war in 1783. Another 100,000+ immigrants made the passage between the end of the revolution and the outbreak of the War of 1812. Scotch-Irish immigration continued, although at a slower pace, until the early 20th Century.

Answer 3

being forbidden to ship their dairy products, linens, and woolens to English markets -being faced with economic

Answer 4

Scot-Irish immigrants came to America seeking religious freedom and relief from poverty. They wanted to own their own land and make a better life for their families.

Answer 5

The Scotch-Irish (or Scots-Irish) were forbidden to ship their dairy products, linens, and woolens to English markets, and they were faced with economic ruin.

Answer 6

The Scots-Irish migrated to America for increased opportunities to make money, and to get out of a famine-stricken Ireland.

Answer 7

There was a food shortage, and they heard of job oppertunities in America