Experiences of Irish immigrants Flashcards
Poverty
The Irish potato blight, 1845-1852, resulted in an estimated million Irish people dying due to the food shortages. This was what forced many to immigrate to Scotland. This explains the Irish experience as it resulted in them being some of the poorest people in Scottish society, this often repelled Scots and led to isolation.
Poor working conditions
Due to their lack of money, the Irish were often more willing to work rougher jobs, such as working as navvies, coal miners or crop harvesters. This explains the Irish experience as these were often labour-intensive and impacted their physical health in the long run.
Poor pay
Many employers took advantage of the fact that many Irish were living in poverty and desperate for work, and so would give them lower wages than they would Scots. This explains the Irish experience as this made it very difficult for them to escape poverty.
Strike breakers
Employers often took advantage of the Irish being willing to work for lower pay by using them as strike breakers against Scottish unions. This explains the Irish experience as this caused many Scots to resent them for ‘stealing their jobs’
Poor housing
Due to the poverty they faced, Irish immigrants often lived in tenements and single ends in areas such as the Cowgate in Edinburgh. These tended to be cramped and unsanitary. This explains the Irish experience as these conditions often resulted in poor health and the spread of disease.
Religion
Catholic Irish immigrants tended to have strong communities due to their shared religion in a Protestant country and created many Catholic groups, including football teams like Celtic. This made assimilation more difficult but gave them support from their communities.
Bussinesses
Some Irish immigrants found work creating their own companies, such as second-generation Irish immigrant Sir Thomas Lipton, who set up a tea business in Glasgow. This explains the Irish experience as some were able to be financially stable due to the success of their businesses.
Disease
Their poor living conditions meant that diseases such as Smallpox and cholera spread quickly. This explains the Irish experience as this meant they missed work more often or had to spend money on treatment, making it more difficult for them to escape poverty.
Protestantism
Protestant Irish immigrants shared the same religion as the majority of Scots. This explains the Irish experience, as it was much easier for Protestant Irish to integrate into Scottish society.
Protestant hostility
In the 1920s the Church of Scotland became overtly hostile towards Roman Catholics, produced a report which claimed Catholics were spreading drunkenness, crime, and financial imprudence. This explains the Irish experience as this made it difficult for Catholic Irish to be accepted by the predominantly Protestant people.
