2. WHAT WILL BE COVERED IN THIS SECTION?
● Reasons for immigration of different groups - Why come to Scotland?
● including Irish, Lithuanians, Jews and Italians – Who came to
Scotland? (We are only covering Irish Groups at S3)
● Patterns of settlement – Where did they live/settle?
● Impact of the Empire on Scotland, including industry and commerce -
What were the negative and positive benefits of being part of the
Empire?
3. KEY TERMS
Immigrant - moves in to a country
Emigrant - moves out of a country
Migrant - general term for someone who moves
Illegal Immigrant - someone who moves country without using the
proper, legal means and methods of entry
Asylum Seeker - person who migrates for safety reasons and is looking
for a safe place to live
4. WHAT IS IMMIGRATION?
“The action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.”
Why might someone choose to move to another country?
5. PUSH VS PULL FACTORS
Push Factor -
something which
forces a person out of
the country they
currently live in.
Pull Factor -
something which
attracts a person to
the country they are
moving to.
6. PUSH VS PULL FACTORS – Sort
CHEAPER TRAVEL
JOBS
GROWING
POPULATION
LACK OF
OPPORTUNITIES
NO LAND
POVERTY
WAR AND
PERSECUTION
FAMILY
CONNECTIONS
BETTER QUALITY
OF LIFE
9. WHY DID THE IRISH SETTLE IN SCOTLAND?
Up until 1922, the whole of Ireland was part
of the UK. This meant the Irish would come
as it was part of the same country.
With the invention of the steamship, travel
between Scotland and Ireland became
much easier and faster. Trips could run 2-3x
per week and could be completed in less
than 24 hours.
10. WHY DID THE IRISH SETTLE IN SCOTLAND?
At first, the Irish would travel through to Scotland to work for the Summer and then
return home.
Before 1840, you were able to gain a passage from Ireland to Greenock for 6
pence. This allowed for temporary emigration during harvest times, small
numbers to work in industry and to help build the railways.
For example in the 1820s, 6000–8000 Irish per year were making the harvest
migration.
By 1841, 57,651 Irish people crossed to England and Scotland to work on the
harvest.
11. WHY DID THE IRISH SETTLE IN SCOTLAND?
Poverty was one of the main reasons why Irish people
were forced to come to Scotland.
Most Irish people did not own their own land. They
earned little and had to pay rent to landlords. If anyone
was unable to pay rent they were evicted.
Many Irish smallholders were forced off their land when
landowners wanted to use modern technology.
12. THE IRISH POTATO FAMINE
Potato blight is a disease that attacks
potatoes that turns them black and
inedible.
The worst years were 1845, 1846 and
1848. This caused a famine because
Ireland’s growing population had become
dependent on the potato.
As a result of the famine, 1.5 million
people died from starvation and illness.
13. THE IRISH POTATO FAMINE AND HOUSING
The failure of the crop meant that
many could not pay their rent and
were evicted.
The British Government were too
slow to act and many landlords used
the crisis to take away people’s
homes.
Between 1847 and 1852 there were
over 90,000 evictions. Landlords even
used police and soldiers to help them
do this.
14. A GROWING POPULATION
In the 50 years before 1841, the population doubled to 8 million.
There was not enough agriculture and industry in Ireland to support the growing
population.
This led to a lack of opportunities in Ireland. People were forced to move to
Scotland and other parts of the UK for a more stable and secure life.
15. PULL FACTORS - EASY ACCESS
With the new steamers (ships) it was easier, quicker and cheap to sail across to
Scotland from Ireland, it was only a short trip to Glasgow and there were many
sailings.
Housing was available in the growing Scottish cities. This helped many Irish
people to move out of cramped and poor conditions.
Wages were higher in Scotland (at least 40% higher). The Irish were willing to
work for lower wages, as it was still more than what they had been earning back in
Ireland.
Some families wrote back to relatives in Ireland to encourage them to emigrate
to Scotland for a better life.
16. WHAT JOBS COULD THE IRISH DO IN
SCOTLAND?
TEXTILE WORKERS:
In the 19th century, the Irish textile industry
suffered as British factories made cloth more
cheaply.
Many immigrated to make more money.
Many worked in less skilled jobs of handloom
weaving.
For example, Irish women made up 44.3 % of
female textile workers in Greenock in 1851.
17. WHAT JOBS COULD THE IRISH DO IN
SCOTLAND?
FACTORY WORKERS:
Developments in technology meant
factories could be fuelled by coal
meaning they could be built anywhere.
Most were built near coalfields and now
produced goods quicker and cheaper,
and as the factories increased so did
the demand for workers.
They also settled where they could get
jobs.
18. WHERE DID THE IRISH SETTLE?
Around 1 million emigrated in total.
Most settled in the USA if they could afford it however the poorest travelled to
Scotland.
They mostly settled in places near where the ships docked because they did not
have the money for onward travel.
19. WHERE DID THE IRISH SETTLE IN SCOTLAND?
Many settled where they arrived because of poverty
and poor health.
For example;
● By 1841 Wigtownshire's Irish population was
16.5%.
● By 1851 Dumfriesshire saw its Irish-born
population stand at 5.9%.
● Edinburgh had only a small Irish community of
6.5% of total population in 1851.
● Almost 29% of all Irish migrants settled in
Glasgow.
● The population of Coatbridge in 1851 was 35.8%
Irish.
20. REVISION CARDS - 1
Explain the reasons why the Irish came to Scotland (6 marks)
PUSH FACTORS PULL FACTORS
1. Poverty
2. Potato Famine
3. Growing Population
4. Lack of Opportunity
1. Close to Ireland (Cheap/Quick
Travel)
2. Jobs
3. Wages
4. Better Housing
5. Joining Friends and Family
22. WHY DID LITHUANIANS COME TO SCOTLAND?
Between 1870–1914 around 650,000 Lithuanians immigrated to another country.
Lack of work: Most were from farming backgrounds. It was difficult to make a
living as farms were small and methods basic.
Political oppression: To flee Tsarist oppression (at the time Lithuania was part of
Russia)
Job Opportunities: Large iron and steel companies, such as Bairds and Dixons,
recruited Lithuanians to come to Scotland to dig coal in company-owned mines.
As a result a small Lithuanian community was established in the west of Scotland,
particularly in Coatbridge where some 5000–6000 immigrants congregated.
23. WHERE DID LITHUANIANS SETTLE?
Most went to the United States via
Scotland as it had a strong shipping route,
but a significant number settled in
Scotland’s industrial central belt:
Coatbridge and Bellshill in Lanarkshire,
Newtongrange in Midlothian.
By 1914 there were about 12,000
Lithuanians in Britain, 7,000 of them in
Scotland.
24. WHERE DID LITHUANIANS SETTLE?
The Lithuanians mainly arrived in Scotland via the port of Leith in Edinburgh.
They would split into two groups – Jews and Catholics.
● Jews headed to the Gorbals in Glasgow
● Catholics headed for areas of coal and heavy industry
25. WHAT JOBS DID LITHUANIANS DO?
● Steelworks
● Ironworks
● Farming
● Coalmines
● Unskilled work in the iron
furnaces, coal mines and
slate mines meant that there
were no barriers to
Lithuanians taking up these
jobs
26. REVISION CARDS - 2
Explain the reasons why the Lithuanians came to Scotland (6 marks)
PUSH FACTORS PULL FACTORS
1. Escaping Poverty (Farming
Difficulties)
2. Fleeing Persecution
1. Travel Links to USA
2. Better Employment
Opportunities
3. Higher Wages
28. WHY DID ITALIANS COME TO SCOTLAND?
Italian immigration was at its height between 1890 and 1914, the Italian
population increased from 750 to over 4500.
Why did Italians move to Scotland?
Poverty was rife and living conditions were harsh, with famine and
sometimes droughts.
Industrialisation was slower than in other European nations – looking for
jobs.
29. WHY DID ITALIANS COME TO SCOTLAND?
They could be attracted to Scotland by recruiting agents working for padroni
(employers) based in London. Often these padroni worked in the ice-cream trade
– many Italians would end up working in this business or the fish and chip
industry.
They also used Scotland as a stepping stone towards the USA - as they hoped
to achieve the American Dream.
30. WHERE DID ITALIANS SETTLE IN SCOTLAND?
Settled all over Scotland
Large communities in
Glasgow, Edinburgh and
Aberdeen.
There were a few settlers
within Inverness -
https://maps.nls.uk/project
s/italians/
31. WHAT JOBS DID ITALIANS DO?
Worked as ‘hokey pokey’ men, selling ice
cream from barrows. Restaurants and
takeaways were soon established using
ingredients widely available in Scotland -
including Fish and Chips!
Italian ice cream and fish and chip shops
became common in most towns.
Also worked in hairdressing and as
tailors. Through their role as barbers and
hairdressers they established the College
of Italian Hairdressers in Glasgow in 1928.
Year
Number of Italian cafes
/ takeaways in
Glasgow
1903 89
1904 184
1905 337
32. ITALIAN IMPACT IN INVERNESS
Dorando’s Cafe was opened by
Mr. Turriani on his return to
Inverness after World War I. It was
the last remaining Italian cafe on
Academy Street, finally closing its
doors in 1993.
Pietro and Linda Ferrari emigrated
to Aberdeen in the 1920’s. They
then moved to Inverness in 1936
where they opened the Ness Cafe
and ice cream shop.
33. ITALIAN IMPACT IN INVERNESS
Many ice cream shops were
opened across the country,
some which still stand today
(e.g. Nardinis in Largs).
Enrico Pagliari was a mobile ice
cream vendor. His chip shop
restaurant was based in
Academy Street, Inverness.
34. REVISION CARDS - 3
Describe the reasons why Italians came to Scotland (4 marks)
PUSH FACTORS PULL FACTORS
1. Poverty
2. Famine and Droughts
1. Employment Opportunities
2. Recruiting Agencies (Padronis)
3. Better Wages
4. Travel Links to USA
36. WHY DID JEWS MOVE TO SCOTLAND?
Many Jews came to Scotland to
escape persecution.
Tsar Alexander II (Russia) was killed
by a terrorist bomb in 1881, one of the
people behind the attack was a Jew.
Pogroms were becoming increasingly
common on Jews – attacks which
could be extremely violent and
discriminated against the Jewish
religion.
37. WHY DID JEWS MOVE TO SCOTLAND?
To escape poverty in Eastern Europe.
A lot of Jews sailed on to the USA and they saw Scotland as a stepping stone.
To join family and friends who had already moved over – settled in the Gorbals
and set up businesses.
38. WHERE DID JEWS SETTLE?
There were two kinds of Jewish immigrants;
The well educated who lived north of the
River Clyde.
The Yiddish-speaking Jews from Poland
and Russia who settled in the Gorbals
(cheap accommodation).
There were estimated to be 6,500 Jews living
in the Gorbals in 1900. By 1919 there were
9,000.
39. WHAT JOBS DID JEWS DO?
Jews found a degree of difficulty in
gaining employment.
Jews were not employed in banks or in
government offices.
This continued into the 1930s and led to
many Jews establishing their own
businesses, such as travelling sales
and tailoring.
40. REVISION CARDS - 4
Describe the reasons for Jewish immigration to Scotland (4 marks)
PUSH FACTORS PULL FACTORS
1. Escape Persecution
2. Poverty
3. Housing (Cheap
Accommodation in the Gorbals)
1. Travel Links to USA
2. Joining Friends and Family
3. Employment Opportunities -
Created Own Businesses
41. DIAMOND NINE
You should put each of the following
causes in order of importance:
● Poverty
● Famine (long-term hunger)
● Growing Population/Lack of
Opportunities
● Employment
● Fear of Persecution/Political
Oppression
● Housing
● Better Wages
● Following Family
● Easy Travel
MOST
IMPORTANT
LEAST
IMPORTANT
42. Select the three most important and give two reasons
for each to explain why people moved to Scotland.
FACTOR 1:
___________________
● -
● -
FACTOR 2:
___________________
● -
● -
FACTOR 3:
___________________
● -
● -
43. TO WHAT EXTENT WAS POVERTY THE MAIN REASON
WHY PEOPLE MOVED TO SCOTLAND BETWEEN THE
1830’s AND 1939?
I - There were many reasons why people moved to Scotland between the 1830’s
and 1939 such as poverty……
F - Poverty was one of the main reasons people moved to Scotland because….
A - What other reasons were there for people moving to Scotland? (Aim for a
further two reasons/ideas).
C - In conclusion, the main reason why people moved to Scotland between the
1830’s and 1939 was …..
E - This is because ….. (give evidence to back up your conclusion)
44. DID THE BRITISH EMPIRE BENEFIT SCOTLAND?
WHAT WAS THE BRITISH EMPIRE?
45. THE BRITISH EMPIRE
The British Empire relates to the power and authority Britain, as a single country,
controlled during the 1800’s/early 1900’s.
Britain had control over many Empires, (a collection of other countries around the
world), which brought goods and fortune to the country.
People moved to Scotland from different parts of the British Empire - this included
Canada, New Zealand, the West Indies, Australia, West and South Africa, and
India.
With this came many positives and negative impacts for Scotland.
46. IMPACT OF THE EMPIRE ON SCOTLAND
Using the information sheet “Impact of the Empire on Scotland”, gather
information for the headings below.
POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THE
EMPIRE IN SCOTLAND
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE
EMPIRE IN SCOTLAND
