jjares reviewed The Scotch-Irish: The History and Legacy of the Ethnic Group in America on + 3275 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
The name of this ethnic group, the Scotch-Irish, is all over historical books I've been reading. I've always been curious about who and what they were about; many Americans today state they come from this distinctive group. The first part of this book is fascinating but the authors seemed to run out of info and started talking about Scotch-Irish who were important (Andrew Jackson, Davy Crockett, etc.).
The Scotch-Irish (more correctly called the Scots-Irish) were largely Protestant immigrants who generally came to America from the northern Irish province of Ulster. After many wars, Ulster was fairly depopulated and England encouraged Lowland Scots, Quakers, and French Protestants to migrate there and serve as a buffer against the Irish Catholics (who tended to rebel often). Ireland was a difficult problem for the English, who had been trying to control them from Norman times.
So, in the 1690s, about 50,000 Scots migrated to Ulster. Life was better here but two problems emerged. English commercial interests tried to tamp down the Ulster/Irish woolen and linen industries and the English tended to own the land these folks rented. They continued to raise rent rates; whereas, land in America was available and inexpensive (for someone willing to work the land). Of course, England wasn't too happy with the migration as it began to accelerate. They wanted to keep their cheap labor and high rents.
Immigration to America for these people came in fits and starts; it began about 1710 and increased in years of famine or severe hardship. They tended to seek out opportunities with land ownership, moving further into the interior of the country. In contrast, when the Irish Catholics came later (in the mid-1800s), they were intensely disliked, moved into urban centers, and tended to vote in an ethnic block.
The last part of the book mentions the famous sons of Scotch-Irish, including 19 US presidents. The 'further reading' section was rather extensive.
The Scotch-Irish (more correctly called the Scots-Irish) were largely Protestant immigrants who generally came to America from the northern Irish province of Ulster. After many wars, Ulster was fairly depopulated and England encouraged Lowland Scots, Quakers, and French Protestants to migrate there and serve as a buffer against the Irish Catholics (who tended to rebel often). Ireland was a difficult problem for the English, who had been trying to control them from Norman times.
So, in the 1690s, about 50,000 Scots migrated to Ulster. Life was better here but two problems emerged. English commercial interests tried to tamp down the Ulster/Irish woolen and linen industries and the English tended to own the land these folks rented. They continued to raise rent rates; whereas, land in America was available and inexpensive (for someone willing to work the land). Of course, England wasn't too happy with the migration as it began to accelerate. They wanted to keep their cheap labor and high rents.
Immigration to America for these people came in fits and starts; it began about 1710 and increased in years of famine or severe hardship. They tended to seek out opportunities with land ownership, moving further into the interior of the country. In contrast, when the Irish Catholics came later (in the mid-1800s), they were intensely disliked, moved into urban centers, and tended to vote in an ethnic block.
The last part of the book mentions the famous sons of Scotch-Irish, including 19 US presidents. The 'further reading' section was rather extensive.
