Book 2, Chapter 4 Magnitudes, Locations, and Flow Summary

Bailyn's first impression of British life in the years leading up to the American Revolution is one of complexity as thousands of people in every region of the country move to ports of exit. Yet, the movement is not a patternless roaming. Bailyn argues that there was a purpose and shape to these movements.

The reports from the customs officials show 9,868 individuals leaving for North America from December 1773 to March 1776. This number must be adjusted however, as not all the travelers were emigrants. A small number, about 2 percent of the total, indicated that they were not emigrating. Of the individuals thought to be emigrating, 5,196 came from England and 3,872 from Scotland. Another 296 came from various other places including Ireland. The overwhelming majority of the individuals emigrating gave their destinations as mainland North American colonies...