Experiences Of Immigrants In Scotland Flashcards
Describe the experiences of Catholic Irish immigrants
Unskilled jobs- coalmining, sugar refinery, jute mills, navies -positive experience but work difficult and dangerous
Lived in poorest parts of the city- Cowgate Edinburgh- Negative experience
Association with disease- Typhus “Irish fever”- Native Scott viewed Irish as dirty drunken- Negative experience

Describe the experience of Protestant Irish immigrants - refer to jobs
Many settled where the weaving trade was strong -Ayrshire ,Glasgow
Worked as farm labourers - in south-west of Scotland
Prominent in skilled industries- Shipbuilding iron industry. Firms birds of Coatbridge
Generally positive experience

Describe the experience of Jewish immigrants
Settled in central Glasgow- Gorbals area, cheap lodgings, lived alongside Jews- spoke Yiddish
Many set up own businesses- Worked as hawkers or peddlers, Jewellers, tailors, Service for Scots
Involved in sweated trades- Worked long hours low pay, Cap makers , tailoring
Overall positive experience- Worked in jobs that did not threaten Scots but faced anti Semitism
Describe the experience of Lithuanian immigrant
Worked in coal iron and steel industry- in Lanakshire and Ayrshire
Sizable Lithuanian community in Coatbridge
Employment came with accommodation in many of industries
Generally positive experience at first faced negative reaction of Scots

Describe the experience of Italian immigrants
Built businesses providing a service- Ice cream from barrows affectionately referred to
Establish their own family run cafés ice cream parlours and fish and chip shops-
- Criticised morally damaging encouraging young people to hang out + open on Sundays
- But also appreciated by Some Scots As they could socialise
Worked long hours in Cafes and fish and chip shops- Social life restricted
Positive experience- worked in jobs not threat to Scots

Describe the reaction of Scots to catholic Irish immigrants
Unpopular with Scottish workers at first- Strikebreakers, kept wages down, competition
Popular with employers- Worked long hours + Lower wages + Jobs Scots didn’t want to do
dirty + caused diseases- lived in Poor conditions-Cowgate Edinburgh
Accused of being “benefit scroungers”- claim poor relief after three years residence
Anti catholic feeling- Formation of organisations “Scottish Protestant league”
Describe the reaction of Scots to Protestant Irish immigrants
Established much better relations with Scots (compared to catholic)- Due to shared language and religion- Not threat
Employers sort out Protestant Irish workers- Advertised vacancies in northern Irish press

Describe the reaction of Scots to Jewish immigrants
Not seen as competitors for jobs- Set up own businesses- Jewellers- Provided service for Scots
Tended to provide for themselves so were not seen to be a burden on local poor relief- jewish benevolent society provide help for Jews in need
Did face some discrimination- Anti Semitism few organised attacks- Immigrants associated with disease

Describe the reaction of Scots to Lithuanian immigrants
In coal and iron making areas they were seen as competitors for jobs and were accused of lowering wages
Used as strikebreakers- Unpopular
At first seen as dirty and immoral
Soon most accepted- time progressed joined trade unions- fought alongside Scots to improve working conditions- more popular
Describe the reaction of Scots to Italian immigrants
Generally accepted by Scots- Provided popular services- Ice cream cafés fish and chips
Some hostility between catholic Italians and Presbyterian Scots- Italian Cafes open on Sunday
Italian café owners criticised by local people- Claimed Cafes encouraged unruly behaviour
Did face some discrimination- Anti Italian chanting and name-calling “tallies”
Hostility developed in 1920s and 30s- Mussolini’s fastest government in Italy- Attacks began on Italian businesses at start of WW1 
Describe the identity and assimilation of catholic Irish immigrants
Often resented by Scots- Kept own identity- Blamed for disease seen as lowering wages
Tended to keep themselves distinct for religious reasons- Celtic football club- Separate sporting identity
Built own churches- Place of meeting for young Catholics
Education act 1918 allowed Catholic schools into state system- Gave schools right to provide catholic religious instruction and select teachers
Shared experience with Scottish worker in that they were affected by industrialisation and urbanisation- Worked together in trade unions + fought in WW1
1930s catholic Irish faced persecution- Sometimes organised by church of Scotland
Describe the identity and assimilation of Protestant Irish immigrants
A lot in common with average Scot- Long term cultural interaction between Ulster and Lowland Scotland
Easier assimilation because of religion- Protestants
Orange lodges provided a way of the Protestant Irish retaining identity- First opened in 1800 in Ayrshire
Describe the identity and a simulation of Jewish immigrants
Establish their own communities- Gorbals in Glasgow- jews lived with other Jews- Spoke Yiddish
Built synagogues to worship in- South Portland Street in Glasgow
Jewish benevolent societies- Righted four members of Jewish community who were in need- provided help for themselves
Many change their name in order to be easily accepted 
Describe the identity and assimilation of Lithuanian immigrants
Integrated by changing surnames- Bernotaitis Became Brown
Maintained a distinct sense of identity by having their own newspapers shops and insurance societies
During WW1 Lithuanian is became faced with choice of joining British Army or being deported to Russia- 700 Fought for British army
By 1920s many left those remained had integrated with Scottish neighbours

Describe the identity and assimilation of Italian immigrants
Worked long hours in their businesses so their social lives were restricted
Many did not try to assimilate as they hope to earn enough money to go back to Italy
Italians kept their own identity through clubs and organisations- Casa d’Italia
Assimilation of Italians was helped by the popularity of ice cream parlours and fish and chip shops
Young Italians adopted the local speech patterns- due to contact with Scots when catering
