Experience of Irish Immigrants Flashcards
Basic Overview:
Why did Irish Catholics come to Scotland?
Irish Catholics came to Scotland in large numbers during the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-51. They were escaping extreme poverty and poor living conditions, as well as hunger and most were illiterate and uneducated this meant they could only find low skilled manual jobs.
What were the Housing Conditions for Irish Immigrants?
They lived in slums, overcrowded tenants, they were begging for things to survive, they didn’t mix well with other communities so lived in irish communities. There was also poor sanitation and disease.
What diseases did Scots associate with Irish immigrants?
Typhus, Cholera and TB.
Why were Irish immigrants called Navvies?
Navvies was the name given to the Irish workers who built the railways.
What jobs did Irish immigrants do?
- Coal mines
- Railways
- Servants to the rich
- Textile mills
- Builders
- Shop Keepers
- Cloth (In Ayrshire and Lanarkshire)
List the 5 reasons why Irish Catholics were not made welcome by Scots?
- They were willing to work lower wages than Scots which drove down Scots wages.
- General dirtier and less well-clothed
- Many diseases were associated with the Irish
- Irish Catholics gained a bad reputation for things like fighting
- Catholicism was detested by protestants in Scotland
What is the stereotypical view of Irish Immigrants?
Most Scots saw Irish Immigrants as dirty and very poor, very illiterate. Also, they’re seen as hard drinkers who would gamble and fight alot. To add on, they would be seen as a problem for overcrowding and seen as the cause of diseases.
Give 2 examples of discrimination against Irish immigrants.
- That their religion (Catholicism) was seen as having no loyalty to Scotland and not acceptable as seen by Protestants.
- That Irish Catholics were seen as “morally inferior” which led to anti-catholic sentiment in areas with high Irish population.
How did the Church help the Irish Immigrants?
The Church provided religious services that were important to Catholic immigrants - mass, confession, baptism, marriage and funerals.
List some things about education to do with the Irish Immigrants.
- Catholic schools were originally funded by voluntary donations.
- 1918 Education Act (Scotland) allowed Catholic schools into the state system and they were given government funding.
- However, Protestant groups argued that their local taxes rates shouldn’t be used for Catholic Schools (“No Rome on the Rates”)
