Migration and Empire, 1830-1939

Irish immigrants escaping famine at home were willing to work for lower wages than the average Scot. This, combined with existing tensions between Catholic Irish and a predominantly Protestant Scottish population, served to increase difficulties between the two communities.

With the rapid industrialisation of Scottish urban centres also came a sudden surge in migration from the smaller farms and fishing communities into the cities of southern Scotland, as landlords reduced their tenancies to make way for the more lucrative sheep industry.

During the time of the Great War, many traditions were lost, and young men in the 1920s had no one to teach them the trades of earlier times. With the sudden economic collapse that followed the end of the war, unemployment in the already overcrowded cities became unbearable, and many travelled to the colonies in search of better fortunes.