They also had to deal with the same stereotypes and self-serving ethnic policies they thought they had left behind. For instance, the Scotch-Irish were isolationists to a certain degree, choosing to live together rather than to mix and intertwine with other ethnic groups (31-32). They were also mistrusted and looked down upon by the colonists already present and forced to the frontier because of a lack of good lands (29).
OPPORTUNITIES.
On some occasions, colonies such as South Carolina would offer "land, tools and seed to whites who would settle within its borders," (21), in order to make their white population competitive with the colonies" populations of Africans and Indians. As a result, Charleston was early, one of the two main ports of entry for the Scotch-Irish of Ulster. South Carolina had rich lands and easy access to the ocean for transport of goods thanks to Charleston. Eventually, some of those who came through the ports of Charleston would migrate into North Carolina.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the other popular port of entry during the early migration period of the 18th century movement of the Scotch-Irish people of Ulster. Pennsylvania offered a relaxed religious freedom and toleration. This gave the settlers .
from Ulster a chance to adjust themselves to colonial life before they would ultimately begin another migration along the Great Wagon Road, which served as another great opportunity for settlers to seek out new and better lands. This resulted in the mass migration into the western and piedmont regions of North Carolina.
The opportunities in frontier piedmont and western North Carolina were abundant. Land prices were "lower than in Pennsylvania or western Virginia, and problems with Indians seemed fewer," and the lands had "rich soil, abundant game, and limitless opportunity," (42). This is also the way North Carolina was painted by those hoping to persuade new settlers to come to the colony.