Immigration to Scotland 1830s-1939 Italians

Aim: Examine the impact of Italian immigration on Scotland. Success Criteria: You Can……… Give two reasons why Italians came to Scotland. Describe two ways that Italians made a living in Scotland. Name three ways that Italians maintained their own identity.

Glossary Tallies – a slang Scottish term for Italians. Hokey Pokey – a slang Scottish term for Italian ice-cream sellers. Sabbath – a day of rest and worship. For most Christians this is a Sunday. Socialise – to spend time with friends. Fascist – a political system with one powerful leader and strict government control.

Italian Immigration After 1880 large numbers of Italians began to arrive in Scotland. By 1914 there was around 4500 Italians living in Scotland.

Italian Immigration Most Italians came from two main areas. Tuscany and towns south of the capital city of Rome. There was terrible poverty in these areas. Many only intended to work in Scotland for a while to raise money and then return home to Italy.

Famous Scots Italians

Italian Immigration The Italians provided two things that became hugely popular to Scots; ice-cream and fish and chips. To begin with, Italian immigrants sold ice-cream from barrows in the street. They were called ‘Hokey Pokey’ men because they would cry ‘Ecco un pocco’ which means ‘here is a little piece’.

Italian Immigration As business grew, many Italians opened fish and chip shops and ice-cream cafes. Many Scots were very religious and attended church. They were upset by the fact that chip shops and ice-cream shops were open on the Sabbath. However other Scots supported theses businesses because they provided a place that young people could go to socialise with friends. This was a better alternative than going to a public house (pub) where alcohol was sold.

Italian Identity The Italians were generally welcomed by Scots as they were not seen as a threat in terms of jobs and wages. Many Scots called the Italians ‘Tallies’ and the Italians remained a strong separate community and they did not always integrate with the local Scottish population.

Source A is written by the historian Tom Devine in his book ‘The Scottish Nation 1700-2000’ (1999) ‘Italian was spoken at home, food was in the Italian style, children were expected to marry Italians. The social life of the girls of the family was especially restricted. Most time was spent in the shops because of the long working hours and the room behind the shop counter became the meeting points for friends and relatives. For many the hope, and for some the reality was eventually to return to Italy.’

The 1930s and the Approach of War In the 1930s, Benito Mussolini was the leader of Italy. He was known as a Fascist dictator and there was strict government rule in Italy. Mussolini became a supporter and friend of Hitler and in the 1930s as tension grew between Britain and Germany, there was some dislike of Italians in Scotland who supported Mussolini When Mussolini declared war on Britain in 1940 some Italian shops and businesses were attacked.

Overall Italian immigrants ran popular businesses that did not threaten Scottish jobs. The Italian community was accepted but very much kept their own identity. This identity was maintained through language, family and work.