MIgration and Empire ISSUE 2

Question 1

Give three positive experiences of Irish Catholic Immigrants

Answer 1

• They were not afraid of hard-work but most of them were unskilled and could only find manual labour jobs (i.e building railways and canals)
• The Education (Scotland) Act 1918 allowed Catholic schools into the state system funded through education rates. It also gave the schools the right to give Catholic religious instruction and select their own teachers.
• Growing acceptance - mixed marriages between Catholics and Protestants became more common as the century progressed.

Question 2

Give three negative experiences of the Irish catholic immigrants

Answer 2

• Most Irish Catholics could not read or write which made Scots think badly of them
• Often resented as competition for jobs
• Blamed for spread of diseases and poverty

Question 3

Give three positive experiences of Irish protestant immigrants

Answer 3

• Irish protestants had a lot in common with the Average Scot.
• They were also welcomed as they had the same religion
• Irish protestants were often more skilled and educated than their Irish Catholic Counterparts so found it easy to find work.
• Irish protestant immigrants moved into better paid, skilled roles, taking on jobs as engineers, train drivers or signal workers in Glasgow.

Question 4

Give a negative experience of the Irish Protestants

Answer 4

• The formation of the Orange Order led to tension between Irish Protestants and Irish Catholics.

Question 5

Give three positive experience of the Jewish Immigrants

Answer 5

• Jews opened bakeries and butchers, and were successful in the tailoring trade and cigarette industry.
• Jews did not compete with Scots in the labour market, being generally self-employed, and they were therefore not seen as a threat.
• The numbers of Jewish immigrants was relatively small and the communities self-contained, meaning Scots were not concerned about their impact on Scottish culture or society.

Question 6

Give three negative experiences of Jewish Immigrants

Answer 6

• Some Scots accused Jews of paying low wages and operating ‘sweatshops’ even though there was little evidence of it.
• Newspapers were also published in Yiddish which angered the Scots.
• Most could not speak English and as the Jewish community began to grow, Yiddish was spoken in the streets along with English which angered Scots.

Question 7

Give three positive experiences of Italian Immigrants

Answer 7

• Assimilation of Italians helped by popularity of ice cream parlours and fish and chip shops ( e.g Nardini’s) . Some also worked as ‘hokey pokey’ men.
• There was a greater degree of acceptance of Italian cafes from the Temperance Movement as the cafes chose not to sell alcohol.
• Others saw the ice cream parlours as a good alternative to public houses, preferring the young to eat ice cream than drink.

Question 8

Give three negative experiences of Italian Immigrants

Answer 8

• Many Italians retained a distinct Italian identity. Italian was mainly spoken in the home but many immigrant children would have learned English at their local Catholic primary school.
• Italian cafes criticised by Scottish Presbyterian church leaders for opening on the Sabbath.
• Italian cafe owners also met with criticism from local people who claimed the cafes were sometimes the scenes of unruly behaviour.

Question 9

Give two positive experiences of Lithuanian immigrants

Answer 9

• Many Lithuanians integrated by changing surnames to Scottish names.
• At first Lithuanians used as strike breakers but soon Lithuanians joined with the local workers and joined the strikes.

Question 10

Give two negative experiences of Lithuanian Immigrants

Answer 10

• Scots complained about the Lithuanians being dirty and immoral but soon most were accepted.
• Also, some Scots accused Lithuanians of lacking moral fibre and indulging in too much heavy drinking.