Abstract:
In 1773, thousands of Scottish citizens from the Isle of Skye immigrated to North Carolina's Cape Fear Valley region to escape unaffordable rent increases. To celebrate their new lives, the immigrants created a new dance called “Americaâ€, which was performed to a brisk reel. The accompanying song, “Over the Isles to Americaâ€, is still a popular folk song in Scotland, according to Scottish folk song authority James E. Scott.