Experience of Scots abroad - Lithuanians

Question 1

4 things

Why leave Lithuania?

Answer 1

1. Argicultural depression
2. Poverty
3. Tsarist oppression
4. Politics

Question 2

3 Negatives of Lithuanias.

Answer 2

1. ithuanian immigrants faced initial hostility, as many Scottish workers believed they were brought in to weaken unions and replace striking Scottish miners

2.s the majority of Lithuanians were Catholic, they experienced discrimination based on their religion

3. ensions between Scottish and Lithuanian miners intensified around 1900, when a downturn in the coal trade led to successive wage cuts. Many Scottish miners saw Lithuanian immigrants as competitors who were willing to work for lower wages, leading to increased hostility.

Question 3

3 Positive Experience of Lithuanias

Answer 3

1. miners joined the Scots in advocating for better working conditions within the mining industry. They became active members of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union, which helped improve relations with local workers and earned them respect for their commitment to collective rights.

2.Some Lithuanians chose to change their surnames to sound more Scottish, which made it easier for them to fit in and reduced instances of discrimination. Over time, these adaptations helped them bridge the cultural gap between their heritage and Scottish society.

3. They established their own clergy, ran two newspapers, formed insurance societies, and set up shops and recreational groups, all of which reinforced their sense of identity. Many Lithuanians also married within their community, helping to maintain cultural continuity.

Question 4

Impact of World War I

Answer 4

• During WW1 many Lithuanians saw themseves as russian and not scottish which created an impact because they refused to fight. this meant that they were deported back home.