Pull factors Flashcards
Social and leisure opportunities?
Shops, pubs, cinemas, dance halls and football were available in towns and cities. Younger Scots though of rural living as boring with extremely long working hours and little time to socialise. The “Bright Lights” of the city were therefore very attractive.
Family encouragement?
Scots were encouraged by family to move from highlands to towns or cities through letters from relatives and friends who had already emigrated, highlighting the opportunities that were available, better pay and opportunity to own land.
Transportation?
Development in technology of steamships meant journey time across the Atlantic of 6 weeks in 1850 was reduced to 1 week in 1914. The reduced time meant less time not earning money which was an important consideration for the people.
Economy?
There were higher wages abroad. On average, emigrant Scots earned more overseas than back home. Late 1800’s granite workers in USA could earn more than three times the income in Scotland so Aberdeenshire granite workers were attracted to migrate to the USA to work on building projects.
Gold rush -
William Campbell discovered the first gold in Australia in the early 1850s that led to the Australian gold rush. This encouraged Scots to emigrate to Australia in search of gaining quick wealth and approximately 100,000 Scots arrived in Australia between 1850 and 1860.
