4. The social impact of
immigration covers six
main issues:
• Housing
• Crime
• Education
• The people
• Religion
• Health
5. Housing
Immigrants were usually
very poor and as such lived
in the poorest quality
accommodation.
However many Scots felt
that Irish immigrants in
particular caused more
housing overcrowding.
6. Crime
Many Scots believed Irish
immigrants had poor morals
and caused crime.
Violence did exist because
of immigration, with fights
sometimes taking place
between Protestant and
Catholic Irish groups.
7. Education
Due to anti-Catholic
prejudice against pupils
and teachers, the Catholic
Church set up their own
schools.
After the 1918 Education
Act, the UK agreed to run
and pay for these schools.
8. Religion
Although Scotland was a still
a largely protestant country
immigration altered this.
Irish, Italian and Polish
immigrants were usually
Catholic. Immigration
increased the number of
Jews too.
9. The people
Immigration had the effect
of increasing Scotland’s
population (even at a time
of high Scots emigration).
The number of people living
in Scotland but born
elsewhere significantly
increased.
10. Health
Many Scots saw the poor
Irish immigrants and
believed they brought
disease with them.
Whilst many Irish people
were sick this was usually
due to the poor living
conditions that they had.
