Ulster and North America : transatlantic perspectives on the Scotch-Irish

"Ulster and North America addresses the complex issues of Scotch-Irish (or Ulster Scots) history and ethnic identity by viewing them from a transatlantic and comparative perspective. The eleven essays, originally presented at meetings of the Ulster-American Heritage Symposium by scholars from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and the United States, examine values, traditions, demographics, and language. They also investigate the process of migration, which transmitted that culture to North America, and the subsequent adaptation within American culture."--BOOK JACKET. "This diverse collection of essays emphasizes several themes. First is the dynamic nature of Ulster society in the 17th and 18th centuries and the rapid changes occurring there, especially affecting Presbyterianism and community cohesiveness, which shaped the motives for migration to the New World. Another theme is the experience of migration, asking who migrated, when they went, what their expectations were, and how closely colonial reality matched those expectations. A third theme is the development of economic strategies and community-building both in Ulster and in North America, making important contributions to the "new rural history" and explaining the success of the Scotch-Irish on the new American frontier. A final theme is ethnic identity and cultural diffusion, advancing the ongoing debate initiated by Forrest McDonald and Grady McWhiney and elaborated on by David Hackett Fischer."--BOOK JACKET. "The contributors to this volume present a unique combination of resources and methodologies including history, genealogical group and community studies, linguistics, demographics, and cultural geography. In emphasizing the diversity of the Scotch-Irish experience, they make clear how inappropriate previous single-model efforts have been in explaining the history of this elusive group. The new research presented here illustrates the value of transatlantic dialogue and of comparative studies firmly based on local and regional studies for the understanding of ethnicity and migration history."--BOOK JACKET Reflecting issues, approaches, and methodologies of contemporary Scotch-Irish studies, these interdisciplinary essays cast new light on Southern Appalachia and ethnic history.Ulster and North America addresses the complex issues of Scotch-Irish (or Ulster Scots) history and ethnic identity by viewing them from a transatlantic and comparative perspective. The eleven essays, originally presented at meetings of the Ulster-American Heritage Symposium by scholars from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and the United States, address the nature of Scotch-Irish culture by examining values, traditions, demographics, and language.This diverse collection emphasizes several themes: the dynamic nature of Ulster society in the 17th and 18th centuries, which shaped the motives for migration to the New World; the experience of migration, including the expectations and realities of life in the New World; and the development of economic strategies and community building in both Ulster and the New World. The book also provides a comprehensive discussion of the ongoing scholarly debates on ethnic identity and cultural diffusion.The contributors to this volume approach their subject from a variety of disciplines, which emphasizes the diversity of the Scotch-Irish experience. New research presented in this volume illustrates the value of transatlantic dialogue and of comparative studies firmly based in local and regional studies for the understanding of ethnicity and migration history."For nearly two decades transatlantic scholars have been exchanging ideas at biennial symposia on the Ulster-American experience. This cross-fertilization of scholarship has borne fruit in the present volume of essays. Itmakes a worthy contribution to our understanding of the Scotch-Irish heritage in Southern Appalachia". -- John D. Fair Auburn University"An invaluable contribution to the field of early American history.... For the most part, the history of Ulster Presbyterian settlement has been ignored by serious scholars and consigned to antiquarians and fileopietists. However, this work should firmly establish the importance of Scotch-Irish studies and stimulate more scholars to examine the migration and adaptation of a people who had such a crucial, formative influence on early American society and culture". -- Kerby A. Miller University of Missouri The 11 essays in this volume, originally presented at meetings of the Ulster-American Heritage Symposium by scholars from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and the USA, explore the nature of Scotch-Irish culture by examining values, traditions, demographics, and language.