Nat 5 History - Migration and empire Flashcards
List push factors effecting immigrants?
-Overcrowding became a problem in Ireland, their population almost doubled between 1800 and 1850. This meant there was less land and they struggled to grow and make enough food to feed their population.
-Famine and poverty. Ireland was very reliant on potatoes because they could grow on small bits of land. From 1845-1848, potato blight infested the Irish crops and caused much starvation.
Also in Italy there was shortages of food due to their lack of industrialisation and going backwards in agriculture.
-Lack of industry. In Ireland and Italy there was very little development in terms of industrialisation. Due to this many unemployed labourers didn’t have the choice of moving to towns for work. A lot of them were illiterate and uneducated so could only farm or do manual labour, this jobs had very little pay.
-Persecution. In the 1800s in areas like that of Russia, Ukraine and Poland many Jewish people were being attacked by gangs or mobs that disliked their beliefs. Many Jews fled to Germany. Then to Europe when the Nazi reign began to build. Many came to Scotland.
-Ownership of land. A very little amount of Irish farmers owned the land in which they lived and tended. These farmers had to pay rent and due to very low incomes many couldn’t meet the pay these farmers were then evicted and lost their farms.
What are pull factors effecting Immigrants to Scotland?
-Scotland’s proximity to Ireland. Scotland was near Ireland and didn’t cost much to get to compared to costs to go to Canada or America. Also many Irish at the time had relatives in Scotland that could aid them in finding a job and house.
-Work opportunities. Scotland had a lack of workers and lots of industries were there to recruit the Irish. Some companies even paid travel expenses and rent for Irish coming across to work for them. Example of Industry: Jute mills in Dundee.
-Higher wages. Wages in Scotland were higher than those in Ireland, occasionally up to 6 times more. Employment was also more common so more money was made.
-Housing Availability. In Glasgow and Dundee there was lots of housing available. The standard of living was also much higher than the hovels in Ireland. Also houses were usually offered with a promise of employment.
Where did Irish immigrants settle in Scotland?
Between 1830 and 1914 More than 300,000 Irish migrated to Scotland. The majority settled in western Scotland, especially in Glasgow. Other common hot spots were Dundee, Paisley and Ayrshire. Few settled in Edinburgh or Stirling because of lack of employment as these cities weren’t industrial centres. Most Irish came to Scotland looking for employment.
Where did Jewish Immigrants settle in Scotland?
From the 1820s-1930s over 10,000 Jewish migrated to Scotland. They settled in the Gorbals, Glasgow due to the affordable housing in the area. Some more wealthy Jews moved to places like Pollocksheilds, Glasgow. Jewish communities were also established in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Falkirk, Greenock and Ayr. The majority looking for jobs and for financial reasons.
Where did Italian Immigrants move to in Scotland?
Many italians began to come to Scotland in the 1870s, there were over 4,000 in Scotland by 1920. There were large communities in Glasgow, Inverclyde and Edinburgh.
Why did immigrants live in groups? (e.g. Irish, Jewish, Italians)
-To support each other. They would help each other find housing and work
-Familiar culture and language. Being around people from the same country helped them settle in and get moral support. Many Irish coming across only spoke Gaelic so they settled together because they could communicate.
-Safety. Many Jews were running from violence and stayed in numbers because it meant they felt safe and secure.
-Celebration. Many wanted to celebrate their culture. Especially in Irish communities. They would sing songs, dance, cook Irish food and tell stories from their home.
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Explain was housing was like for immigrants.
Houses in the cities had been built quickly to satisfy demand and were often not fit for living in. The housing in Glasgow and Dundee was mostly tenements which were cheaply built and crammed together with no building regulations or regard to safety. They were damp and cold, while fire was a constant risk.
Overcrowding was common and large families were forced to live in small spaces – often with up to 12 people in one ‘house’. Many people lived in ‘single ends’ (houses consisting of one room only). Other more prosperous immigrants lived in a‘room and kitchen’. There were no toilets, these were in a different building, and very poorly built as well.
There was a lot of disease because of lack of cleanliness and overcrowding. Water was commonly contaminated with sewage making cholera common. Typhus and tuberculosis also spread.
Large heaps of waste were also situated behind the housing which attracted rats.
State Social impacts about Immigration
Depopulation
-From the mid 1800s Scotland’s population gradually decreased, immigration into Scotland was less than those leaving.
Urbanisation
-Towns and cities began to grow because many were moving from rural places to the ‘central belt’ looking for factory jobs. This was a negative thing and competition and overcrowding in cities led to the decrease in living conditions.
World War I
-Many Irish and Candians fought with the Scots during the war and friendships were formed.
State Economic impacts of immigration
-Many educated and skilled Scots left Scotland to make their fortune elsewhere in other colonies, this meant Scotland lost many people with valuable skills.
-There was an increased amount of people immigrating to Scotland. This resulted in production increasing and Britain becoming an industrial powerhouse.
-Foreign trade increased a lot due to Scots setting up businesses abroad creating trade links with countries of origin.
Employment for immigrants in Scotland
Many became labourers:
-on Farms, or agriculture
-as Miners
-in construction
And other unskilled, labour jobs
Why was the church important to Irish catholic immigrants?
-Priests helped with writing letters to send back to family and friends in Ireland.
-Priests helped catholic Irish find accommodation.
-Church was a place of comfort in the time of dreadful working and living conditions.
-The church supported those having financial difficulties.
-It was a place of social gathering for the Irish Catholics. Family events / dances e.g.
-The church helped provide schooling for the children
-Football teams were formed by the Catholics to raise money and bring together the community.
State some negative attitudes towards Irish immigrants
-Sottish identity: A lot of the Irish immigrants were catholic and Scotland was a protestant country, many Scots were worried that Catholicism would return to Scotland. The church of Scotland, newspapers and political leaders tried to convince Scots that due to the immigrants they might lose their identity and religion.
-Most Irish were poor and Scots were worried that they would drain the poor law provision (ensures that the poor were housed in workhouses, clothed and fed), costing them more taxes.
-Employment. Many Scottish workers felt that the Irish were stealing their jobs. The immigrants were willing for lower pay so would be wanted more. The Scots felt this would put them out of their jobs
-Claims about Irish. Many Irish navvies (labourers/Workers) Gained a reputation for being violent.
Irish were stereotyped to be illiterate due to their lack of education.
Most areas that the Irish lived had social problems related to poverty and poor housing
State positive attitudes towards Irish immigrants
-Early immigrants often married locals and changed their surnames to Scottish equivalents.
-Employers liked Irish immigrants as there was a shortage of manual and factory workers
-Irish immigrants were willing to work long hours with little pay.
Explain conflict between Irish Catholics and protestants
-They supported different football teams and had great rivalries between each other.
-Differences in religious beliefs
-Protestant and catholic Irish denied each others access to employment
-Irish protestants tended to be educated and better off so they believed that they were better than the poorer Catholics.
-The protestants formed a group called the Orange Order, this was an anti catholic group that hosted many marches and assemblies across Scotland
-The two had very different identities, this lead to ill-feeling and violence
State reasons for Scots emigrating
-Charities and emigration societies
helped emigration, for example,
YMCA
-The Empire Settlement Act provided
funds for those who wanted to
emigrate
-Some landowners provided money
for emigration, for example, Harris
-Poverty forced Scots to look for
employment opportunities abroad
-The Highland Clearances forced
crofters off their land to make way
for sheep and deer
-New farming methods and increased
technology meant fewer people
were needed for farm work
-Cheap land was offered in North
America
-Cattle and sheep farming in
Australia and New Zealand
attracted many
-Skilled workers were needed to
help develop new settlements
abroad
-Higher wages and improved living
conditions attracted Scots abroad
-Family and friends who had
emigrated sent letters back
encouraging Scots to move
-Newspapers ran adverts and
published letters from successful
emigrants
Name areas where Scots migrated.
-Areas within Britain
-The U.S.A.
-Canada
-Australia
-New Zealand
State reasons for success of Scottish immigrants
-They had a very strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit.
-They adapted well to the harsher climates.
-They formed their own communities and helped each other.
-Scottish farmers could use their skills and knowledge to improve their farms.
-Those skilled tradesmen who settled had exactly the skills needed to match the economic needs of the new countries.
-Scots who had experience in commerce, trade, banking and industry could take full advantage of the new business opportunities in the new lands.
-Professionals (doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, accountants and architects) often found their skills were in great demand.
State some successful Scottish immigrants and what they did for the economy.
USA:
-Andrew Carnegie established iron and steel companies which saw him become the richest man in America. He established thousands of libraries and set up institutes to conduct scientific research.
-George Smith developed banking institutions in Wisconsin and Illinois. In the 1840s and 1850s he was the most successful banker in the Chicago area.
-Robert Dollar worked in the shipping and timber industry, he combined the two and made his fortune transporting lumber to the far east.
Canada:
-John Alexander McDonald became a successful politician in Canada and became their first prime minister in 1867.
-Allan Gilmore was involved in the ship building business in Canada. The large ships he designed and built made him a fortune.
-George Stephen helped to establish and run the Canadian Pacific Railroad in the 1880s. He was also good at banking which helped him finance his railroad empire.
Australia
-Andrew Fisher formed the Australian labour party and became prime minister in 1908.
-John Dunmore Langstablished a Presbyterian Church in Sydney. In 1832 he opened the Australian College and recruited teachers from Great Britain. He encouraged Protestants from Britain to migrate to Australia.
-John MacArthur introduced merino sheep, which made Australia the world’s biggest producer of wool.
State a big political impact made by the Irish in Scotland
Many Irish people were involved in campaigning for improved working and living conditions, they played a significant role in setting up Trade Unions and forming the Labour Party.
John Wheatley was a leading figure in the Red Clydeside era. He set up the Catholic Socialist Society and became a Minister in the first Labour Government.
