America-NI 250 Collection

Local links to the historically significant story

As the United States of America celebrates the 250^th 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 18^th 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.