M&E 4 - Impact of Empire on Scotland Flashcards
political leaders such as John Weatley
Irish immigrants produced key political leaders such as John Weatley.
This had a positive impact on Scottish society because politicians helped to improve Scotland for everybody and John Weatley was a member of the first Labour government and is most remembered for the 1924 Housing Act which led to affordable housing being built for the working class.
Fish & chip shops / ice-cream parlours
Italian immigrants introduced fish and chip shops and ice-cream parlours to Scotland.
This had a positive impact on Scottish economy because cafes boosted the economies of small coastal towns as day trips from cities became increasingly popular and the Scottish leisure industry was growing.. In 1903, there were 89 cafes in Glasgow, growing to 336 by 1905.
Cigarette industry
The development of the cigarette industry by Jewish immigrants was a reason why migration and empire had a positive impact on Scottish economy because there was no local workforce that could produce cigarettes so an entirely new industry was established in Glasgow which attracted other tobacco manufacturers to Glasgow and therefore created more jobs.
Clyde shipbuilding
The Empire contributed to the Clyde becoming the centre of the shipbuilding industry.
This had a positive impact on Scotland’s economy because one-fifth of the world’s steamships were produced in Glasgow meaning there was plenty of employment opportunities for Scots.
Orange Lodge Order
Protestant Irish immigrants introducing Orange Lodge Order to carry out annual parades provides a reason why migration had a negative impact on Scottish culture because it led to conflict with the Catholics and this sectarianism has defined Scottish culture ever since.
Football
Irish immigrants introduced football to Scotland and founded football teams such as Rangers in 1872 and Celtic in 1887.
This had a positive impact on the culture of Scotland as it caused football to become the national sport and huge numbers of Scots to support their teams.
Building roads, canals and railways
Irish immigrants contributed to the building of roads, canals and railways across Scotland including the Glasgow subway.
This shows that migration had a positive impact on the economy of Scotland because significant projects, such as the Edinburgh and Northern Railway line in Fife where 2110 Irish navvies were employed, were completed due to Irish labour.
Tailors
Jewish immigrant tailors, such as Abraham Goldberg who immigrated from Eastern Europe in 1908, provided Scots with better quality clothes at affordable prices.
This had a positive impact on the Scottish economy because by the 1930s, A.Goldberg and Sons plc. was one of Scotland’s most successful companies and Jewish tailors also introduced paying on credit which helped build the middle classes.
Coal Mining
Lithuanian immigrants often worked in the coal mining industry.
This had a positive impact on the economy of Scotland because they helped to develop the heavy industries of places like Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. This made a significant contribution towards Scotland becoming an industrial powerhouse in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Empire: destination for Scottish emigrants
The empire played an important role as a destination for Scottish emigrants.
This had a positive social impact on Scotland because it helped to deal with the overcrowding created by the industrial revolution and also encouraged those from the colonies to migrate to Scotland.
Money from Empire: buildings/factories
Money from the empire helped to build new, impressive buildings and factories.
This had a positive impact on Scottish cities because it changed the way Scottish cities looked forever. Growth in Glasgow shown the in the growth of high status housing, and areas like Broughten Ferry near Dundee were easily identified by their wealthy housing developments.
Raw materials: jute
The empire was an important source of raw materials for Scottish industries especially jute.
This has a positive economic impact on Scotland because in Dundee, materials from the Empire were combined with work skills in Scotland to create more money.
Jute from India was sent to Dundee where it would be turned into hessian cloth, creating thousands of jobs in the area.
Brain Drain
High levels of emigration in the empire created a ‘brain drain’ where most talented Scots left the country to live abroad.
This had a negative impact on Scotland’s development because through becoming successful in other countries, rather than Scotland, Scots were using their skills and education to enrich countries in the empire at the expense of their own.
Empire employment opportunities
Many Scots benefited from employment opportunities in the Empire, including the army and civil service.
This had a positive economic impact on Scotland because Scots were able to exploit employment opportunities offered by the Empire. For example, Scottish middle-class boys had successful careers, especially in India, as civil servants, doctors and as soldiers. Opportunities were also important to many ordinary households in Scotland.
Scottish martial traditions
Having taken on the Highland traditions of wearing kilts and tartan, and playing bagpipes before battles, Scottish regiments were highly visible within the army.
These martial traditions had a positive impact on Scotland because people around the world became familiar with the kilted Scottish soldier.
This created a popular image in Victorian Britain of the fierce Scottish warrior so young men in Scotland were attracted to the army in large numbers.
