As the United States of America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, this collection reveals local links to this historically significant story.
Tens of thousands of Ulster-Scots people emigrated from Ulster to America in the 18th century in search of a new life. Predominantly Presbyterians, they were fleeing religious persecution, but what they found was a new form of oppression. The British government was imposing taxes on its American colonies, and this ‘taxation without representation’ lead the Ulster-Scots – known as Scotch-Irish in the USA - and others to demand autonomy in the New World.
The Declaration of Independence was created, and the American Revolution eventually overthrew British rule under King George III. The Ulster-Scots had helped shape a new United States of America and their influence resonates to this day, with 20 former US Presidents claiming Scotch-Irish ancestry. Discover more about this rich story, and other local links to the USA, through our new America-NI 250 collection including programmes funded by the Northern Ireland Screen Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund.