Immigrant Experience : Italian, Lithuanian, Jewish Flashcards
Jewish
Working Life
Started off selling door-to-door before opening up own businesses.
Worked very hard, long hours, low pay and bad conditions - “sweated labour” - trade unions were against this so it aggravated Scots.
Opened up own businesses which had positive impact as Jews were not in direct competition with other immigrants at the time.
Jewish
Assimilation/Relations with Scots
Jewish tended to stay in their own communities.
They didn’t compete with Scots for jobs in the shipyards.
They prospered and made a significant contribution to Scottish society, particularly in the legal profession .
Contributed to production of cigarettes.
Built synagogues.
Started newspapers.
Italians
Working Life
Came over to escape poverty and earn money to send home to their families.
Most found work in family businesses such as cafes, fish and chip shops and ice cream shops.
Italians
Issues with Scots
No tension in regard to employment.
Popular as they provided goods scots desired (fish on Friday)
Opposition from some Scots as they thought the shops were immoral as they were open on Sundays and allowed boys and girls to mix un-chaperoned.
We’re not against cafes as was a place to go without alcohol, less threatening then pubs.
Italians
Assimilation/Relations with Scots
Only mixed with other Italians and married Italians.
Kept own traditions and cultures alive and they spoke Italian at home.
Didn’t view Scotland as a forever home.
Lithuanians
Working Life
Settled in Ayrshire/Lanarkshire.
Worked in heavy industries such as coal mining and iron foundries.
Lithuanians
Issues with Scots
They were strike breakers, blamed for wage cuts.
Roman Catholic religion caused a problem for the Scots.
Number of Lithuanians involved in Trade Unions increased and this helped solve issues with Scots.
Lithuanians
Assimilation/Relations with Scots
By 2nd generation they began to marry out with their community.
Many changed names to avoid discrimination in the work place based on their nationality and their religion prior to the Second World War.
