Irish Immigrants in Scotland

The Irish potato famine of 1846-1847 was a major catalyst for Irish immigration to Scotland. Many Irish tenants were evicted from their lands, and with Ireland lacking a strong industrial sector, Scotland became an attractive destination.

Several factors drew Irish immigrants to Scotland:

1. Low fares for passage from Ireland to Greenock
2. Job opportunities in cotton weaving and railway construction
3. Demand for unskilled and semi-skilled workers
4. Religious compatibility for Protestant Irish immigrants

However, Irish immigrants faced significant challenges and hostility in Scotland. They were often accused of stealing jobs and viewed as strike-breakers. Some Scots saw them as disease carriers, associating them with typhus (known as "Irish fever"). Irish immigrants typically occupied jobs at the bottom of the labor market.

Despite these challenges, there is evidence of assimilation:

1. The establishment of Celtic Football Club to help feed and clothe the poor in Glasgow's east end
2. Construction of 44 new chapels
3. Creation of Catholic agencies
4. Strong loyalty to the Church among Irish Catholics
5. Formation of the League of Cross to tackle alcohol-related issues

Highlight: The Irish potato famine of 1846-1847 was a significant push factor for Irish immigration to Scotland.

Vocabulary: Assimilation - the process by which immigrants adapt to and become integrated into their new society.

Jewish Immigrants in Scotland

Jewish immigration to Scotland began in the 1860s, primarily due to persecution of minorities in Russia and pogroms. Later, in the 1930s, Hitler's persecution in Germany led to another wave of Jewish immigration.

Evidence of assimilation among Jewish immigrants includes:

1. Generally being well-respected and avoiding widespread anti-Semitism
2. Establishing the Glasgow Hebrew Benevolent Loan Society
3. Successful individuals like Abraham Goldberg
4. Campaigning for kosher food in hospitals
5. Setting up classes to teach English to themselves and their children
6. Maintaining their religious culture and beliefs
7. Establishing many synagogues

However, Jewish immigrants also faced some hostility:

1. Some were monitored by the police under the Alien's Act
2. Jewish children experienced bullying and division in schools
3. Many Jewish people faced unemployment and poverty during wartime
4. Derogatory terms were used by other children, such as referring to Jews as "old tin cans"

Vocabulary: Pogrom - an organized massacre of a particular ethnic group, particularly Jews in Russia and eastern Europe.

Highlight: Despite facing some hostility, Jewish immigrants in Scotland managed to maintain their cultural identity while also integrating into Scottish society.