2. In today’s class I am learning to:
• Explain why many people moved to live
in Scotland
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
3. During the 1800s and early 1900s, many people
moved to Scotland from elsewhere in Europe. There
were various reasons for this.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
4. Each migrant had different
reasons for moving to
Scotland, including:
• Escape poverty
• Employment reasons
• Avoid persecution
• En route to the USA
• Quick/short journey
• Family/social links
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
6. Different immigrant groups
came to Scotland with the
hope of escaping poverty
in their homeland.
Many Irish, Italians and
Lithuanians suffered from
low wages and poor
housing and believed they
would be better off in
Scotland.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
7. In the 1840s, a potato
famine swept across much
of Europe.
Ireland was especially
affected, with around one
million people dying.
Many Irish came to
Scotland to escape the
worst effects of this.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
8. Italian farm workers faced
problems such as famine
and drought, again forcing
them to find a new life
elsewhere.
Other Italians left because
they felt taxes were too
high in their country, again
forcing them to live in
poverty.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
10. Scotland was also
attractive to many
unemployed immigrants
due to the prospect of
them getting a job.
High unemployment was
a concern for Irish, Italian
and Lithuanian migrants,
forcing them to move.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
11. Scotland had many jobs
available.
The country’s farms
needed workers –
especially at key times of
the year such as Harvest –
and so many migrants did
this work, especially Irish
and Lithuanians.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
12. Factories and heavy
industry were major
sources of employment.
Large numbers of Irish
people worked in jute
factories in Dundee.
Other Irish built ships in
Glasgow, but Catholic Irish
were often stopped from
doing so.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
13. Other migrants created
their own work by setting
up businesses.
Italians owned cafes and
fish and chip shops, whilst
others became barbers.
Many Jews owned
companies that sold
products like tobacco or
clothes.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
15. Scotland attracted Jewish
immigrants because it was
seen as a safer place to
live than in other parts of
Europe.
Many Jews had been the
targets of pogroms
(violent attacks) in Russia,
Eastern Europe and also
Nazi Germany.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
16. Russia’s actions forced
Lithuanians to migrate.
The Russian Empire used
Russiafication. This meant
that countries under their
control (including
Lithuania) had to speak
Russian and could not
follow their own customs,
such as religious beliefs.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
17. Religious discrimination
also forced many
Lithuanians to leave their
home, including moving to
Scotland.
Catholic Lithuanians were
oppressed by the Russian
Orthodox Church, and
Lithuanian Jews faced
attacks too.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
18. Some Lithuanians also fled
to Scotland to avoid being
forced to become soldiers
in the Russian Army.
However during World
War One, Lithuanian men
living in Scotland were
often forced to join either
the British or the Russian
army.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
20. For most Lithuanians, the
aim was to live in the USA.
Scotland was a temporary
home to allow them to
earn enough money to
pay for their US fare.
It is even claimed that on
arrival in Scotland some
Lithuanians believed they
were in the USA.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
21. Many Jewish and Italian
immigrants also came to
Scotland as a ‘stop off’,
not intending to stay.
Many wished to travel to
the USA but could not
afford to do so in one
journey, so came to
Scotland to make money
before going to America.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
23. Scotland’s location made
it an obvious destination
for Irish people.
It was close to Ireland
which meant a quicker
and cheaper journey. This
was important as many
Irish people were poor
and suffered from ill-
health.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
24. Scotland’s proximity to
Ireland also let Irish
immigrants travel back
home easily.
During the 1800s, many
Irish people only moved
for seasonal work (such as
farming), living in both
Ireland and Scotland at
different times of the year.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
26. Many migrants to Scotland
came because they had
family connections.
Some Irish Protestants had
family members already
living in Scotland
(especially in west coast
areas such as Ayrshire),
which helped encourage
them to travel.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
27. As other migrant
communities in Scotland
grew – like Jews and
Italians – they set up
cultural links like religious
buildings and clubs.
This encouraged more
people from their
countries to move to
Scotland.
Reasons for immigration to Scotland
