Whitechapel - Tensions

Question 1

Irish immigrants

Answer 1

-irish left ireland for the USA but ended up in London
-poverty meant most could only afford to live in least expensive parts of london
-most worked as navvies or dockers
-reputation of being drunk & violent and were associated w terrorism

Question 2

Fluctuating population

Answer 2

most accommodation in Whitechapel was temporary which meant there were many temporary residents who didn’t have an interest in fostering any sense of community

Question 3

Eastern European Immigrants

Answer 3

-huge influx of eastern european immigrants into Whitechapel in the 1880s who were mostly Russian & Polish Jews

-poverty meant they were only able to settle in the cheaper parts of london

-tended to stick together within these areas causing segregation

-by 1888, some parts of Whitechapel had 95% Jewish pop

Question 4

Anarchists & Socialists

Answer 4

-From 1848 there was a wave of attempted revolutions across Europe. Many of the revolutionaries ended up in London’s East End.

-Movements set up or supported by the revolutionaries were anarchism, which opposed organised government, and socialism, which wanted the end of capitalism.

-Both movements were feared by the authorities, and middle and upper classes, but attracted some support from residents of Whitechapel.

Question 5

Resulting tensions

Answer 5

-tensions between immigrant & local populations over access to to housing & jobs

-recently arrived Jewish immigrants were prepared to accept lower pay and poor conditions, leading to an increase in the sweatshop system - this annoyed other workers & non-sweatshop employers

-anti-semitism & violence against Jews rose rapidly

-anyone w foreign accent was suspected of being a violent revolutionary

• ‘Foreigners’ were blamed for many crimes, such as the Ripper murders, which increased racial hatred & violence