Scots-Americans

[Graham]

It's really not a matter of being inconspicuous or humble or what have you. They were assimilated out of existence in identity terms through semi-organic forces (American nation building that is).

May start a Canadian Scots thread, not today but soon. I mean we contributed there, more than anywhere else and felt the strongest connection.

It makes more sense than this thread.

[Graham]

'the millionaire next door'
http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/s...llionaire.html
THRIFTY SCOTS

The Scottish ancestry group makes up only 1.7 percent of all households. But it accounts for 9.3 percent of the millionaire households in America. Thus, in terms of concentration, the Scottish ancestry group is more than five times (5.47) more likely to contain millionaire households than would be expected from its overall portion (1.7 percent) of American households.

The Scottish ancestry group ranks second in terms of the percentage of its clan that are in the millionaire league. Nearly twenty-one (20.8) in 100 of its households are millionaires. What explains the Scottish ancestry group's high ranking? It is true that many Scots were early immigrants to America. But this is not the major reason for their economic productivity. Remember that the English were among the earliest immigrants, yet their concentration numbers are far lower than those of the Scots. Also consider that the Scots did not enjoy the same solid economic status that the English enjoyed during the years the nation was in its infancy. Given these facts, one would think that the English ancestry group would account for a higher concentration of millionaire households than those in the Scottish group. But just the opposite is the case. Again, the Scottish ancestry group has a concentration level nearly three times that of the English group (5.47 versus 2.06). What then makes the Scottish ancestry group unique?

If an ancestry group has a high concentration of millionaires, what would we expect the income characteristics of that group to be? The expectation is that the group would have an equally high concentration of high-income producers. Income is highly correlated with net worth; more than two-thirds of the millionaires in America have annual household incomes of $100,000 or more. In fact, this correlation exists for all major ancestry groups but one: the Scottish. This group has a much higher number of high-net worth households than can be explained by the presence of high-income-producing households alone. High-income-producing Scottish-ancestry households account for less than 2 percent of all high-income households in America. But remember that the Scottish ancestry group accounts for 9.3 percent of the millionaire households in America today. More than 60 percent of Scottish-ancestry millionaires have annual household incomes of less than $100,000. No other ancestry group has such a high concentration of millionaires from such a small concentration of high-income-producing households.

If income does not come near in explaining the affluence of the Scottish ancestry group in America, what factors do shed light on this phenomenon? There are several fundamental factors.

First, Scottish Americans tend to be frugal. Given a household's income, there is a corresponding mathematical expectation of level of consumption. Members of this group do not fit such expectations. On average, they live well below the norm for people in various income categories. They often live in self-designed environments of relative scarcity. A household of Scottish ancestry with an annual income of $100,000 will often consume at a level typical for an American household with an annual income of $85,000. Being frugal allows them to save more and invest more than others in similar income groups. Thus the same $100,000 income-producing household of Scottish descent saves and invests at a level comparable to the typical American household that annually earns nearly $150,000.

In the chapters that follow, we reveal the highest prices typical millionaires reported paying for suits, shoes, watches, and motor vehicles. A significantly greater number of millionaires with Scottish ancestry reported paying less for each item than the norm for all millionaires in the sample. For example, more than two-thirds (67.3 percent) of Scottish millionaires paid less for their most expensive motor vehicle than the norm for all millionaires surveyed.

Because they accumulate wealth, the Scottish-ancestry affluent have wealth to pass on to their offspring. Our research reveals that Scottish offspring typically become economically and emotionally independent even as young adults. Thus, they tend not to drain their parents' wealth.

Members of the Scottish-ancestry group have been able to instill their values of thrift, discipline, economic achievement, and financial independence in successive generations. These values are also typical traits among most self-made millionaires.

USA ethnic/ancetry group with the most millionaires by order:
1.Russian
2.Scottish
3.Hungarian
4.English

[Graham]

Donald Trumps Scottish Mother. We gave you that fine looking man. ha!

[Graham]

General Hugh Mercer was a soldier and physician. A close friend to George Washington. Mercer died as a result of his wounds received at the Battle of Princeton and became a fallen hero and rallying symbol of the American Revolution.

There are rumors that Mercer exclusively originated Washington's daring plan to cross the Delaware River and surprise the Hessians at the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776, and he was certainly a major contributor to its execution. Because of the win at Trenton (and a small monetary bonus), Washington's men agreed to a ten-day extension to their enlistment. When Washington decided to face off with Cornwallis during the Second Battle of Trenton on January 2, 1777, Mercer was given a major role in the defense of the city.

The next day, January 3, Washington's army was en route to Princeton, New Jersey. While leading a vanguard of 350 soldiers, Mercer's brigade encountered two British regiments and a mounted unit. A fight broke out at an orchard grove and Mercer’s horse was shot from under him. Getting to his feet, he was quickly surrounded by British troops who mistook him for George Washington and ordered him to surrender. Outnumbered, he drew his saber and began an unequal contest. He was finally beaten to the ground, then bayoneted repeatedly - seven times - and left for dead.

Because of Mercer’s courage and sacrifice, Washington was able to proceed into Princeton and defeat the British forces there. He then moved and quartered his forces to Morristown in victory. Because of those victories, Washington's army reenlisted, the French finally approved arms and supplies to the Americans and a stunned Cornwallis pulled his forces back to New York to reassess the surprising American successes.

[Graham]

Scottish Rite


Some of their collection of buildings.

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in the United States often omits the and), commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry. A Rite is a series of progressive degrees that are conferred by various Masonic organizations or bodies, each of which operates under the control of its own central authority. In the Scottish Rite the central authority is called a Supreme Council.


.....zip

[Ánleifr]

Scots americans were rapidly assimilated into the dominant american anglo-saxon culture/identity following the revolution. There was little differentiation if at all among the British home nations within American anglo-saxon culture past about the 19th century. Pretty sad.

A similar thing happened in Canada, but on a lesser scale as the differentiation stood out a little more because of our continued British rule (hence there was a lack of a "Canadian" identity as we still thought of ourselves as British until about the 1940's).

yes, I have often wondered why many did not retain the kilt and clan culture once here in America. I think many may have been lost with the stopover in Ireland prior to coming to America.

[Ánleifr]

??? I've seen different, I see English roots getting downplayed or overlooked while everyone and their sister is a part of some Irish Sept, Highland Clan or some burly Scotsman out to shout "freeeeedom" as Mel Gibson did in years ago.

I agree 100%!! Nobody EVER claims English descent. I have no idea why??

[Graham]

I agree 100%!! Nobody EVER claims English descent. I have no idea why??

Same way, why some of the early Americans claimed they were Episcoplian not Anglican. They cut ties to the Motherland. Most Anglo-Americans would just claim American.

All though in Britain Episcopalian=Scottish, Anglican=English.

[Ánleifr]

Same way, why some of the early Americans claimed they were Episcoplian not Anglican. They cut ties to the Motherland. Most Anglo-Americans would just claim American.

All though in Britain Episcopalian=Scottish, Anglican=English.

yes I agree, especially after the colonists won their independence over England, it probably wasn't the coolest thing to do to claim pride in the mothercountry. Now having said that, I am not sure why the Scots lost their connection with Scotland unless like I said it was lost due to the Jacobite War and their fleeing to Ireland.

[Graham]

David Dunbar Buick was a Scottish-born Detroit inventor, best known for founding the Buick Motor Company. He headed this company and its predecessor from 1902 until 1906, thereby helping to create one of the most successful nameplates in United States motor vehicle history.