Experience of Immigrants

Question 1

What were the experiences of Italian immigrants?

Answer 1

1. They were traveling singers, musicians, street artists and mosaic workers, and made homemade religious crafts.
2. They were hairdressers and barbers.
3. They ran cafes, ice cream parlours, fish & chip shops and other hospitality businesses
4. Scots enjoyed their hospitality businesses
5. They were self employed which Scots liked
6. Their businesses were open on Sundays which was the day of rest, Scots didn’t like this
7. Widespread so no specific experience can be tied to them
8. They created their own community hubs and social activities
9. Experienced discrimination for being Catholic
10. Discriminated against because of Italy’s association with Nazi Germany

Question 2

What were the experiences of Lithuanian immigrants?

Answer 2

1. Men worked in coal and steel mines, and blast furnaces; mining companies went to Lithuania to recruit.
2. Women would be found making bricks from clay.
3. They created jobs in shops, clubs and insurance companies.
4. Scottish Miners Federation said they drove down wages, dilute labour market and caused accidents.
5. Miners worried as they couldn’t speak English or read health and safety signs.
6. Lived in mining villages (Little Lithuania) and would often live close together, over a few streets.
7. Save money to bring family/friends/partners.
8. Changed their surnames to blend in, some were forced.
9. Were labelled ‘drunks’ due to their celebrations.
10. Faced discrimination because they were Catholic.

Question 3

What were the experiences of Jewish immigrants?

Answer 3

1. They owned their own bakeries, butchers and tailors.
2. Many worked in the cigarette industry, very successful.
3. Were successful in legal and medical practices as well as being entrepreneurs and business people.
4. Accused of running sweatshops and undercutting wages.
5. Spoke English and Yiddish, children expected to learn both, shop signs in both - Yiddish eventually died down.
6. Gorbals were cheap so communities lived there.
7. Bowling clubs didn’t allow them to become members.
8. Blamed for Cholera outbreaks.
9. Hitler’s rise led to higher levels of anti-semitism
10. They set up support for themselves.
11. They were discriminated against for their surnames.

Question 4

What were the experiences of Catholic Irish immigrants?

Answer 4

1. Settled in slums as they were cheap. Poor sanitation and overcrowding, filled with smoke as no chimneys and few windows.
2. Overcrowding led to cholera (contaminated water), typhus (bacteria) and diphtheria.
3. Associated with poverty, dirtiness and disease because of their living situations.
4. Blamed for their circumstances as they would drink and gamble to deal with it.
5. Worked dangerous, hard, low paying and skilled jobs; Navvies, factories and ports (cheap labour).
6. Openly discriminated against because they were Catholic.
7. Seen as threat as thought to be taking jobs and lowering wages as would work for less.
8. Work relationships improved from 1870’s from cooperation, trade union and striking together.
9. Married their own faith as Scot’s didn’t want inter-faith marriage.
10. Created own communities with churches, schools, clubs and football teams, giving friendship.
11. Attacked in newspapers, churches and on the street. Irish surnames and sometimes faith was lost.

Question 4

What were social experiences of immigrants?

Answer 4

1. Italians businesses were open on Sundays which was the day of rest, Scots didn’t like this
2. Italians were widespread so no specific experience can be tied to them
3. Italians created their own community hubs and social activities
4. Italians were discriminated against because of Italy’s association with Nazi Germany
5. Lithuanians lived in mining villages (Little Lithuania) and would often live close together, over a few streets.
6. Lithuanians saved money to bring family/friends/partners.
7. Lithuanians changed their surnames to blend in, some were forced.
8. Gorbals were cheap so communities Jews lived there.
9. Bowling clubs didn’t allow Jews to become members.
10. Blamed Jews for Cholera outbreaks.
11. Hitler’s rise led to higher levels of anti-semitism towards Jews
12. Jews set up support for themselves.
13. Jews were discriminated against for their surnames.
14. Catholic Irish settled in slums as they were cheap. Poor sanitation and overcrowding, filled with smoke as no chimneys and few windows.
15. Overcrowding in Catholic Irish slums led to cholera (contaminated water), typhus (bacteria) and diphtheria.
16. Catholic Irish associated with poverty, dirtiness and disease because of their living situations.
17. Catholic Irish blamed for their circumstances as they would drink and gamble to deal with it.
18. Catholic Irish created own communities with churches, schools, clubs and football teams, giving friendship.
19. Catholic Irish attacked in newspapers, churches and on the street.
20. Protestant Irish kept their identity - formed the Orange Order that hosted weddings and funerals.
21. Conflict with Catholics and Protestant Irish got the Orange Order banned, Old Firm conflict too.
22. Protestant voted Conservative due to support of the Orange Order. Catholics voted Liberal when had chance as they would give Home Rule to Ireland.

Question 5

What were the experiences of Protestant Irish immigrants?

Answer 5

1. Thought as same race and faith so more accepted
2. More skilled and educated so worked as engineers, train drivers, iron and coal miners, and farmers.
3. Kept their identity - formed the Orange Order that hosted weddings and funerals.
4. Conflict with Catholics got the Orange Order banned, Old Firm conflict too.
5. Voted Conservative due to support of the Orange Order. Catholics voted Liberal when had chance as they would give Home Rule to Ireland.

Question 6

What were economic experiences of immigrants?

Answer 6

1. Italians were traveling singers, musicians, street artists and mosaic workers, and made homemade religious crafts.
2. Italians were hairdressers and barbers.
3. Italians ran cafes, ice cream parlours, fish & chip shops and other hospitality businesses
4. Scots enjoyed Italians hospitality businesses
5. Italians were self employed which Scots liked
6. Lithuanian men worked in coal and steel mines, and blast furnaces; mining companies went to Lithuania to recruit.
7. Lithuanian women would be found making bricks from clay.
8. Lithuanians created jobs in shops, clubs and insurance companies.
9. Scottish Miners Federation said Lithuanians drove down wages, dilute labour market and caused accidents.
10. Miners worried as Lithuanias couldn’t speak English or read health and safety signs.
11. Jews owned their own bakeries, butchers and tailors.
12. Many Jews worked in the cigarette industry, very successful.
13. Jews were successful in legal and medical practices as well as being entrepreneurs and business people.
14. Jews were accused of running sweatshops and undercutting wages.
15. Catholic Irish worked dangerous, hard, low paying and skilled jobs; Navvies, factories and ports (cheap labour).
16. Catholic Irish seen as threat as thought to be taking jobs and lowering wages as would work for less.
17. Catholic Irish work relationships improved from 1870’s from cooperation, trade union and striking together.
18. Protestant Irish more skilled and educated so worked as engineers, train drivers, iron and coal miners, and farmers.

Question 6

What were cultural experiences of immigrants?

Answer 6

1. Italians experienced discrimination for being Catholic
2. Lithuanians were labelled ‘drunks’ due to their celebrations.
3. Lithuanians faced discrimination because they were Catholic.
4. Jews spoke English and Yiddish, children expected to learn both, shop signs in both - Yiddish eventually died down.
5. Catholic Irish openly discriminated against because they were Catholic.
6. Catholic Irish married their own faith as Scot’s didn’t want inter-faith marriage.
7. Irish surnames and sometimes faith was lost.
8. Protestant Irish thought as same race and faith so more accepted

Question 7

What were positive experiences of immigrants?

Answer 7

1. Scots enjoyed Italians hospitality businesses
2. Italians were self employed which Scots liked
3. Italians created their own community hubs and social activities
4. Lithuanians created jobs in shops, clubs and insurance companies and so didn’t take jobs
5. Jews owned their own bakeries, butchers and tailors, creating their own employment
6. Jews set up support for themselves.
7. Catholic Irish work relationships improved from 1870’s from cooperation, trade union and striking together.
8. Catholic Irish created own communities with churches, schools, clubs and football teams, giving friendship.
9. Protestant Irish kept their identity - formed the Orange Order that hosted weddings and funerals.
10. Protestant Irish thought as same race and faith so more accepted

Question 8

What were negative experiences of immigrants?

Answer 8

1. Italians businesses were open on Sundays which was the day of rest, Scots didn’t like this
2. Italians were discriminated against because of Italy’s association with Nazi Germany
3. Italians experienced discrimination for being Catholic
4. Scottish Miners Federation said Lithuanians drove down wages, dilute labour market and caused accidents.
5. Miners worried as Lithuanias couldn’t speak English or read health and safety signs.
6. Lithuanians changed their surnames to blend in, some were forced.
7. Lithuanians were labelled ‘drunks’ due to their celebrations.
8. Lithuanians faced discrimination because they were Catholic.
9. Jews were accused of running sweatshops and undercutting wages.
10. Bowling clubs didn’t allow Jews to become members.
11. Blamed Jews for Cholera outbreaks.
12. Hitler’s rise led to higher levels of anti-semitism towards Jews
13. Jews were discriminated against for their surnames.
14. Catholic Irish seen as threat as thought to be taking jobs and lowering wages as would work for less.
15. Overcrowding in Catholic Irish slums led to cholera (contaminated water), typhus (bacteria) and diphtheria.
16. Catholic Irish associated with poverty, dirtiness and disease because of their living situations.
17. Catholic Irish blamed for their circumstances as they would drink and gamble to deal with it.
18. Catholic Irish attacked in newspapers, churches and on the street.
19. Catholic Irish openly discriminated against because they were Catholic.
20. Catholic Irish married their own faith as Scot’s didn’t want inter-faith marriage.
21. Irish surnames and sometimes faith was lost.
22. Conflict with Catholics and Protestant Irish got the Orange Order banned, Old Firm conflict too.