Impact of the empire on Scotland between 1830 and 1939

• Importance of the Empire as a destination for Scottish emigrants
• Many Scots decided to immigrate to areas of the empire in order to better their living standard
• Importance of the Empire as a source of raw materials for Scottish industry, e.g. Jute was imported from Calcutta to Dundee where factories were built to create products
• Scotland exported to the Empire in great quantities: Springburn, produced one quarter of the world's locomotives in 1914
• Many Scots made their wealth abroad and returned home to invest in Scottish industry which benefited Scotland
• Scots exploited employment opportunities offered by Empire: Scottish middle-class boys had successful careers, especially in India, as civil servants, doctors and as soldiers
• Scottish regiments played a considerable part in the expansion and maintenance of the Empire – growth of the martial tradition
• The Empire was a source of competition to Scottish economy: farm produce from Australia, Jute mill development in India
• Scottish merchants invested heavily abroad, particularly in the Empire (where investments were safe), as a more beneficial source of profit than investing in Scotland
• This resulted in Scottish industry remained relatively backward and relied on a low wage economy to maintain its dominance in heavy industry