Challenges Faced by Immigrant Communities
Italian immigrants faced suspicion from temperance movements who disliked their cafés, viewing them as places that encouraged drinking and socialising among young people. Many Italians kept to themselves, speaking Italian at home and forming tight-knit communities, which made some Scots view them with distrust.
Jewish citizens encountered more severe discrimination, especially during WWI when they had to register as aliens. Scottish social clubs often refused them membership, whilst newspapers like the Daily Record portrayed Jews negatively, describing them as an "alien danger." The British Union of Fascists actively tried to stir up anti-Jewish sentiment in the 1930s.
Lithuanian immigrants were branded as "strike-breakers" because they'd work during Scottish strikes, often accepting lower wages than Scottish workers. Being devoutly Catholic in a predominantly Protestant country created additional tension. Interestingly, many Scots couldn't distinguish between different Eastern European nationalities and simply called all Lithuanians "Poles" or "Russians."
Key Point: Most immigrant groups were forced to register as aliens during WWI, highlighting how wartime increased suspicion towards foreign communities.
