2. In today’s class I am learning to:
• Describe the experiences of Protestant
Irish immigrants in Scotland
• Explain why some Scots supported or
opposed Protestant Irish immigration
Immigrants in Scotland – Protestant Irish
3. Although most Irish immigrants to Scotland were
Catholic, large numbers of Protestant Irish also
made the journey across the Irish Sea.
Immigrants in Scotland – Protestant Irish
6. • The devastating Potato Famine of the
1840s and 1850s hurt most people in
Ireland, regardless of religion, so
Protestants left to escape this.
• Poverty was a problem in Ireland, with
high unemployment and low wages, so
Scotland offered a chance of change.
• Some Irish Protestants also had family
or religious links to Scotland, which
again helped encourage them to travel.
Immigrants in Scotland – Protestant Irish
8. • in the 1840s around one quarter
of Irish migrants to Scotland were
Protestant.
• Although they moved to places
across Scotland, Irish Protestants
often moved to areas that had
jobs and an existing Irish
Protestant population.
• This meant mainly Lanarkshire,
Ayrshire and also places in and
around Glasgow.
Immigrants in Scotland – Protestant Irish
10. • .Protestant migrants were attracted to
Scotland with the chance of work in
mines, factories, farms and shipyards.
• Some workplaces – including shipyards
in the west of Scotland – would not
hire Catholic workers, so this gave an
advantage to Protestant workers.
• Some companies even advertised to
encourage Irish Protestants to move to
work in Scotland.
Immigrants in Scotland – Protestant Irish
11. • Many Protestant workers
were skilled in weaving
and bleaching, which
helped them find work.
• Ayrshire attracted large
numbers of Irish
Protestants. This meant
that many Protestants
worked in the area as
miners or on farms.
Immigrants in Scotland – Protestant Irish
13. Irish Protestants often had
the same living conditions
as their Catholic
equivalents.
The growth of towns and
cities in Scotland in the
1800s created huge
overcrowding problems,
and Protestant immigrants
were affected by this too.
Immigrants in Scotland – Protestant Irish
15. • Protestant Irish immigrants had much
less difficulty than Irish Catholics in
continuing to practice their religion.
• Protestant churches existed all across
Scotland, allowing Protestant
migrants to attend services or be
married.
• Many Protestant Irish married into
Scots families, allowing them to
assimilate more easily than Catholics
Immigrants in Scotland – Protestant Irish
16. • Many Irish Protestants also
showed their religious identity
through their involvement in
Protestant organisations.
• Groups such as the Orange
Order had a presence across
Scotland –mainly in the west
coast – and Irish migrants
joined.
• Groups like Masonic Lodges and
the Freemasons attracted some
Protestant immigrants
Immigrants in Scotland – Protestant Irish
18. • Irish Protestant immigrants
received a more positive welcome
to Scotland than Irish Catholics
because they shared the same
religious beliefs as many Scots and
appeared to be less of a threat
• Many industries such as
shipbuilding welcomed workers
from Irish Protestant backgrounds
• Many became involved in Trade
Unions and fought in the Great
War, but so did many Irish
Catholics
Immigrants in Scotland – Protestant Irish
19. • However not all Scots were
happy about Protestant Irish
immigration.
• Some Irish migrants – Catholic
and Protestant – engaged in
religious battles. This created a
negative impression of all Irish
immigrants.
• As with Catholics, many Scots
believed Irish Protestant
migrants drove down wages
and took jobs of Scots
Immigrants in Scotland – Protestant Irish
