2. The Scots were prepared to move thousands of miles from
home, often travelling in dangerous conditions. But why
were they prepared to do this?

4. During the 1800s and early-
1900s, many people in
Scotland led extremely
poor lives.
The problems they faced
meant many of them
believed they would have
a better life elsewhere.
While most did, many
returned home to Scotland.

5. There were many reasons
for poverty; most of them
were to do with jobs.
Many Scots were often
unemployed. They did not
get any government help.
Other Scots worked for
extremely low wages.

6. Unemployment existed for
many different reasons.
After the Industrial
Revolution, factory work
meant skilled home workers
were no longer needed.
Also foreign competition
meant many Scots
companies struggled.

7. The lack of government
help was a problem for
many people in the 1800s.
Unemployment meant no
wages or money, unless
charity was available.
Also, before the NHS poor
people often went without
basic healthcare.

8. Many Scots had very poor
diets, which made illness
more likely.
There were also problems
with poor housing and
overcrowding.
Overseas Scots often wrote
letters to friends and family
encouraging them to move.

10. Moving to other countries
was not simply based on
poverty – others just wanted
a new or better life.
Many ‘new’ countries such
as Canada and Australia
held meetings to persuade
people to move there.

11. New countries offered
many benefits.
One of the main ones was
the chance to own land.
Emigrants were offered the
chance to buy land at
cheap prices, or sometimes
given land for free.

12. Many of these new lands
also seemed to offer a
better chance of finding
employment.
Skilled workers were in
demand overseas and
could also get higher
wages. Whilst most Scots
were better off, some
eventually returned home.

13. In the 1900s it also
became much
easier to travel to
new lands.
A steam ship could
travel to the USA in
only one week – six
times faster than in
1850.

14. Many Scots were also
attracted by people they
knew that had moved
overseas.
The chance to see friends
or family – who mostly
seemed to have better
lives – encouraged them
to travel.

16. Improving their own lives
was not the only reason
that some Scots travelled
– religion was a reason
too.
At the time many people
in Scotland were very
religious, specifically
Christian.

17. Many Christians believed
they had a duty to
spread the word of God,
and not just in Scotland.
They would travel to
faraway places
spreading God’s word,
hoping to convert others
to join their faith.

18. There are many famous
examples of missionaries.
David Livingstone trained as
a doctor before becoming
a missionary in Africa.
He is most famous as an
explorer, especially
searching for the source of
the River Nile.

19. Another famous missionary
was Mary Slessor.
Slessor was born in
Aberdeen but lived in the
slums of Dundee.
She was deeply religious
and travelled to Africa.
Slessor often campaigned
for women’s rights.

20. Missionary Societies were
set up to help spread God’s
word.
These societies would raise
money for the missions, and
train people to become
missionaries.
They also set up missionary
bases around the world.

21. Scots also spread their
religion in many of the new
parts of the British Empire
where they moved.
The Presbyterian religion
was spread as Scots
opened their own churches
in places such as Australia,
Canada and New Zealand.

23. Many people in Scotland
desperately wanted to
travel abroad but could
not afford to.
However there was help
available from
governments, charities
and other groups too.

24. Some landowners paid
some or all the costs for
people to move overseas.
This was for different
reasons. Sometimes
because they wanted the
land, others because they
thought the person might
need financial help.

25. Many charities helped
people move too.
William Quarrier, a rich
businessman, and the
YMCA (Young Men’s
Christian Association)
helped children and young
people move too.

26. Colonial governments (in
countries such as Canada
and Australia) helped
people too.
They needed workers or
people to take care of the
land. These governments
paid for people’s travel or
gave them land for free.

28. The British Government
helped people to move too.
They wanted the British
Empire to grow stronger and
needed more workers in the
colonies.
Also they wanted to try to
stop huge unemployment in
Britain after WW1.

29. The British Government
offered grants (money)
to pay for people’s
travel.
In the 1922 the Empire
Settlement Act was set
up provide funding for
travel, training and
buying overseas land.