Nursery Rhymes

Scottish Immigration to America Timeline

The Scots were originally descended from the warlike Picts and were separated from England by Hadrian's Wall. Scotland is divided into the northern Highlands and the southern Lowlands.

The highlanders mainly adhered to the Roman Catholic religion whereas the Lowlanders mainly adhered to the strict form of the Protestant religion called Presbyterian.

The History Timeline of Scottish Immigration to America includes important dates and events in the history of Scotland that contributed to the push and pull factors which led to mass immigration from Scotland.

Scottish Immigration to America Timeline
Famous historical events include that effected emigration included the political and religious persecution of the rebellious Jacobites and the famines and cholera that hit Scotland.

The Scottish Immigration to America Timeline highlights the Push and Pull factors of immigration such as political and religious persecution, wars that occured in Scotland together with dates of any natural disasters such as floods, plague, crop failures and famine. Also refer to the Timeline of Scots-Irish Immigration to America.

Scottish Immigration to America Timeline
According to the US Bureau of the Census of 2011 a total of 5,706,263 Americans claimed to be solely or partially of Scottish descent. Scottish-Americans made a significant impact on the culture of Americans and the history of the United States as can be seen in the following timeline detailing these immigrants to America. The timeline begins with significant events in the history of Scotland that had a significant effect on the relationship with the English and ultimately with the United States.

122

 

The Romans built the 73 mile Hadrian's Wall as a physical barrier between the Picts in Scotland and England, so beginning the separation of the English and the Scots.

1292

 

Scotland was first ruled by their own kings but this changed when an English noble named John Balliol was crowned King of Scotland.

1298

 

The famous Scottish rebel William Wallace fought against the English rule was defeated at the Battle of Falkirk and executed in London

1314

 

Scotland regained their independence from England when Robert the Bruce defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn

1513

 

The Scots invaded England but were defeated by the English at the Battle of Flodden

1603

 

The son of Mary Queen of Scots, King James succeeded to the English throne and the two kingdoms of Scotland and England were joined under one monarch.

1609

 

The "Ulster Plantation" was established by King James I who confiscated over half a million acres of lands in Ireland to be colonized by English-speaking, Protestant rent-paying tenants. Presbyterians from the lowlands of Scotland, emigrated to Ireland and become known as the Scots-Irish.

1620

 

The Mayflower Pilgrims landed in America who established the Plymouth Colony. One of the pilgrims was a Scot called Robert Sproat who emigrated from Scotland and worked to pay for his passage on the historic voyage.

1600's

 

Scots who adhered to the Protestant faith were welcome in America and small groups of Presbyterian Scots made their homes across the American colonies.

1689

 

The 1689 Revolution when the House of Stuart was deposed resulting in a series of Catholic Jacobite rebellions supported by the Scots highlanders.

1690's

 

A succession of failed harvests, referred to as the "Ill Years' of the 1690s" brought famine and disease to Scotland killing 15% of the population. Many Scots, from both the Highlands and lowlands of Scotland, chose to escape to America as indentured servants.

1707

 

The Act of Union was passed and Scotland was formally united with England to form Great Britain

1717

 

The 1717 Transportation Act resulted in Scottish criminals and Jacobite rebels being transported to America.

1745

 

In 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie, supported by the Catholic Jacobites, attempted to claim the British throne but was defeated at the Battle of Culloden. The failure of the rebellion resulted in more than 1,500 Jacobite prisoners being transported to the American Plantations in chains sentenced to a 14-year convict bond service.

1746

 

Many angry Scots, following defeat by the English at the Battle of Culloden, made the decision to immigrate to the American colonies. The majority settled in South Carolina and Virginia where strong trade links had already been established between the city of Glasgow and Virginia colony, trading in tobacco. Some of the Scots immigrants gained passage on the tobacco trade ships.

1775

 

Many of the Scots settlers fought against British tyranny in the American War of Independence (1775–1783)

1776

 

The Declaration of Independence included signers of Scots descent such as Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, James Buchanan, James Monroe, John K. Polk and William Drummond

1840

 

The Highland Potato Famine of the 1840's hit Scotland first striking the Scottish Highlands and Hebrides Islands and then spreading to the Lowlands. The famine was followed by a Cholera epidemic and the number of immigrants to the US showed a significant increase.

1873

 

The Panic of 1873 led to the 6 year period called the 'Long Depression' that led to civil unrest and strikes and an increase in Anti-immigrant sentiments.

1880

 

Migration to the United States exploded in the 1880's and the US began to pass laws to restrict immigration. Between 1881 - 1890 5,246,613 immigrants gained entry to the United States.

1891

 

The 1891 Immigration Act provided for the inspection and deportation of immigrants

1892

 

The Ellis Island immigration center was opened (1892 - 1954) where migrants from Europe were required to undertake to medical and legal inspections. The Ellis Island immigration center was a frightening ordeal for Scots although less than 2% of immigrants from Scotland were turned away.

1907

 

The 1907 Immigration Act was a reform law that was passed to restrict the number of immigrants. The Act also established the Dillingham Commission whose report led to further stringent and specific immigration restrictions.

1924

 

The 1924 Immigration Law restricted the number of immigrants from a given country to 2% of the number of residents from that same country living in the US. 87% of permits went to immigrants from Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, and Scandinavia

1900's

 

The number of immigrants decreased from Scotland but their descendents constitute a large number of the American population

Scottish Immigration to America Timeline

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