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Section 3: The HIGHER HISTORY Impact of Scots emigrants on the Empire. The Gordon Schools Huntly. MR DAVIDSON MIGRATION & EMPIRE 1830-1939 The impact of Scots Emigrants on the Empire. This theme will cover the himself up to wealth from small impact of Scots emigrants on beginnings without external aid, the growth and development of you find ten Scotchmen’. This the Empire with reference to was made possible by the Treaty of Union in 1707, which Canada, Australia, New Zealand made Scotland a full partner in and India in terms of: the largest free trade empire in • Economy and enterprise the world. The Scots almost • Culture and religion immediately took advantage of • Native societies. the situation and there were large outflows of men and Background: women looking for a new life and a new beginning, mainly at Liberal MP Sir Charles Dilke, this time in North America. writing in 1888, remarked that: ‘In Map of the British Empire, British settlements, from Canada 1887. to Ceylon, from Dunedin to Bombay, for every Englishman that you meet who has worked [1] In Canada, Lord Mount contributions to Indian culture and The Scottish Influence: Stephen was behind the creation society. Colin Campbell of the great Canadian Pacific completed the first geographical Between 1763 and 1777, Railway, and other Scotsmen survey of India; Alexander Kydd 50,000 Scots from (mainly) the dominated the economy to the created the Botanic gardens in west of Scotland settled in North extent that one-third of the Calcutta; and others such as America. Their drive and country’s business elite were of engineers developed the education saw them quickly Scottish origin. The Scot John infrastructure of India. Even after Muir was the driving force behind the dissolution of the EIC in 1857 dominate the tobacco trade and other areas of economic life, such the establishment of the National and the introduction of as fur-trapping in Canada. Parks Movement. Even American competitive entry into the British Gospel music, which has been administration, Scots still played Education and religion were traditionally linked to Africa and an important part in the running of other areas of cultural life slavery, is now seen to have been India. where the Scottish influence the outcome of a combination of The Earl of Elgin, Viceroy of was overwhelming. Such was influences. Some historians have India 1862-1863: the strength of the Scottish highlighted the impact of Scottish presence in America that 19 of the Gaelic speakers from North Uist 56 delegates who signed the on the development of Gospel Declaration of Independence over the last few centuries. came from Scotland and/or The Scottish presence was Ulster; indeed, 75% of US also strongly evident in India. presidents, including Barack When Henry Dundas became Obama, could claim some President of the Board of Control Scottish ancestry. in 1784 he ‘Scoticised’ India and Although America ended its through his agencies Scots came colonial status in 1783, cultural to dominate the activities of the and economic links were East India Company (EIC); a maintained with the mother Seven of the 12 viceroys were private company which country. Even today, Scottish Scottish and many Scots served administered and defended food, culture and athletics are as judges, district commissioners, territory claimed by the British and so on. Ceylon (Sri Lanka) was celebrated in the many until 1857. By 1792, Scots made added after the Scottish 73rd Highland gatherings, Burns up one in nine EIC civil servants, Regiment defeated the Dutch in Clubs’ and Caledonian one in eleven common soldiers 1815. Ceylon became Societies’ meetings in Canada and one in three officers. synonymous with tea; a product and the USA. Scots and those of The first three Governor- developed by James Taylor but Scottish descent made important Generals of India were Scots. brought to world renown by the contributions to the Vast fortunes were made by Glasgow businessman, Sir development of the American imperial administrators and Thomas Lipton. economy, for example Andrew entrepreneurs. However, there Carnegie, David Dunbar Buick were also scholars and scientists and William Blackie. who made important [2] engaged in some kind of Scots also distinguished India became a massive service in the period 1792–1815. themselves as businessmen, market for the British economy, They became an integral, almost professionals and but more importantly for the indivisible, part of the imperial administrators, the story of metal industries of Scotland. project. They had established conquest was not always a Practically all the railway engines Britain as the undisputed master pretty one. of the globe and, during the 19th in India were built in Springburn in Much of the justification for century went on to build an Glasgow. The east of Scotland imperial expansion was based was also strongly linked empire on which the sun literally on the idea of the civilising economically through the jute never set. mission of higher racial groups trade. Dundee became the centre towards more backward and of jute making in the world and the Camperdown works of the racially inferior peoples. British Baxter Brothers the largest mill in rule was extended throughout the world. the less developed world But it was not always trade through a mixture of the bible that was the driving force behind and gunpowder. emigration. Religious impulses However, it was not as settlers were behind the desire to that Scots played a significant populate New Zealand and to role in British expansion in Africa create ‘little Scotlands’. The but as individuals working through the Scottish Presbyterian Otago settlement in the South Island and the Waipu settlement missions. The explorer and Not all territorial expansion in the North Island were the missionary David Livingstone, products of two Scottish involved war, at least not against from Blantyre in South ministers. Dunedin (Gaelic for major powers. The empire’s Lanarkshire, inspired many others to follow him to Africa, known as Edinburgh) became the capital of growth was dependent on the the former and already had a suppression of local peoples the ‘dark continent’, after carrying university by 1869. In Waipu, and their cultures. This was out work there in the 1840s and Gaelic was the first language in graphically illustrated in Australia 1850s. their homes until the 1880s and with the brutal treatment of the David Livingston: many still spoke it in the 1920s. Aborigines. The Scots were at The defence of territories from the forefront of this assault on equally acquisitive foreign native peoples, showing powers, such as France, saw the themselves to be as ruthless as chance for Highlanders to redeem any other ethnic group when it themselves in the eyes of British came to land grabbing. This was state after the 1745 Rebellion. also true in New Zealand, where Highland regiments fought with the Maori population fell from great distinction in the wars of around 150,000 in 1800 to 37,000 Empire, from Europe to Canada in 1872 as a result of a protracted and to Asia, with around a struggle with the settlers over quarter of men of military age land rights. Thus, while the [3] was largely responsible for Pipes and drums of the 2nd Mary Slessor, a mill girl from creating the widely held belief Battalion Royal Scots, Quetta, Dundee, was one of them. She, that Scottish education was the India, 1931. like her idol, went ‘literally where best in the world. no white man had gone before’ in Thus, the Scots were her quest to save souls in the important to the development Calabar region of Nigeria. of the Empire in diverse ways: However, by driving into the as businessmen, as educators, uncharted interiors of the as missionaries, as imperial continent and encouraging administrators and soldiers. trade between the natives and Their contribution was so British traders they opened up substantial that it has led some the territories to further imperial historians to refer to ‘the expansion. They were largely Scottish empire’. While the unsuccessful in attracting Scots were hugely important to converts to Christianity. Still, men and women such as Livingstone the global growth of British and Slessor helped in the long run influence, to argue that the to change deeply entrenched Empire was essentially their notions regarding the divine right creation would be to ignore the to rule ‘lesser races’, to a more role of the British state and ethical position on foreign policy. other national groupings such They felt the native population to as the English and the Irish. The be only inferior to Europeans in Scots may have run the Empire, the sense that they were without and profited by it, but at the end God. Their desire to bring of the day it was London that education to Africans led to decided its fate. It was English national independence laws and civil institutions that movements in central, eastern and southern Africa, as well as the Scot was to uphold and live India. Moreover, it was the by. educational work of Presbyterian missionaries that [4] Tasks: The Scottish Influence: 1. What were the sort of traits Scots had which saw them dominate and succeed in so many areas? 2. What evidence is there to show that Scottish culture is still celebrated abroad even today? 3. Give some examples of successful Scots in Canada and India. 4. How did the British Empire help Scottish trade? 5. What was one of the driving forces behind the desire to populate New Zealand? 6. Which group of Scots helped Britain establish itself as the undisputed master of the globe? 7. How did Britain justify the suppression of local peoples and their cultures? 8. How was the territories opened up to further imperial expansion? 9.