PUSH factors- internal migration

Question 1

Potato Blight/Famine

Answer 1

between 1846 and 1858, the potato blight wiped out the potato crop on the west coast and highland areas of scotland, leaving 150,000 people at risk of starvation.

This forced Scots to migrate for food and a better chance at survival

Question 2

Decline of the Fishing Industry

Answer 2

the russian revolution in 1917 brought an end to the east european export trade in herring, so many men and women lost their jobs and income.

this forced Scots to migrate because families could not support themselves on the coast any longer

Question 3

Mechanisation

Answer 3

22 workdays were required to farm one acre of land in 1840, but in 1914 it took just 12 days done by newly invented machines to do the job and therefore fewer workers were needed on farms as a result.

this forced scots to move to another part of scotland in search of work

Question 4

lack of land

Answer 4

it was difficult for scots to own the land they worked on due to high prices and rapid population growth which pit a strain on the amount of available land

this forced Scots to migrate as they tried to escape the oppressive landlords and search for an alternative way to make a living

Question 5

Education

Answer 5

there was a lack of schools in rural scotland, and many schools were too far from childrens homes and was also difficult to recruit teachers to these areas

this pushed Scots to move and take advantage of the 1872 education act and receive better education elsewhere

Question 6

lack of social life

Answer 6

the highlands and rural areas were socially isolated, with little access to social activities or events

this pushed scots to migrate to end their social isolation in search for a better quality of life

Question 7

highland housing

Answer 7

many highlanders lived in blackhouses. these houses had no chimney for the smoke from the fire to escape and were often shared between people and livestock

this forced scots to migrate to another part of scotland in search of better healthier conditions

Question 8

low wages

Answer 8

in agriculture there was many more workers than jobs due to a population boom in the lowlands, meaning workers entirely depended on the needs of local farmers who may only need workers at certain times in the year

this pushed scots to migrate as they wanted to escape this instability

Question 9

highland/lowland clearances

Answer 9

crofters were evicted from their homes as it became more profitable for landlords to keep sheep on the land.

this forced scots to migrate to another part of scotland because they had been displaced without homes or an income