Modern Era Migration - Overview

Question 1

What contributed to growing anti-immigrant sentiment in the UK during this period?

Answer 1

Growing tension globally, influence from politicians and the popular press, and resentment from the National Sailors’ and Firemen’s Union towards foreign merchant seamen, notably the Chinese.

Question 2

What was the significance of the 1905 Aliens Act?

Answer 2

The Act severely restricted immigration and marked the beginning of a series of laws aimed at limiting immigration in the 20th century.

Question 3

What were some terrorist actions that influenced public opinion against immigrants?

Answer 3

The ‘Houndsditch Outrage’ and the ‘Siege of Sidney Street’, carried out in London by opponents of the Russian government, contributed to public hostility towards immigrants.

Question 4

How did World War One impact anti-immigrant sentiment?

Answer 4

The war led to a sharp rise in nationalism and violence against German and Austrian residents in the UK, exacerbated by events such as the sinking of the Lusitania by a German submarine in 1915.

Question 5

What were some consequences faced by Germans and Austrians in the UK during World War One?

Answer 5

They were subjected to attacks on their businesses, internment, and discrimination due to heightened nationalism and wartime tensions.

Question 6

How were Belgian refugees received in the UK during World War One?

Answer 6

Generally welcomed and well received, a quarter of a million Belgians fleeing their wartorn country constituted the biggest influx of refugees ever to the UK.

Question 7

What was the role of the Grand Pavilion in Brighton during World War One?

Answer 7

It looked after thousands of wounded Indian troops, showcasing a positive reception towards immigrants during the war.

Question 8

What were the post-war tensions related to employment?

Answer 8

There were serious tensions between returning servicemen and seamen from Africa, Asia, and the West Indies over employment opportunities.

Question 9

What cities experienced riots with a racist element in 1919?

Answer 9

Liverpool, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, and other ports experienced riots with strong racist elements between January and August 1919.

Question 10

What were some consequences of the riots in 1919?

Answer 10

The riots resulted in five deaths, significant property damage, and heightened racial tensions in affected areas.

Question 11

What characterized the period between World War One and World War Two in terms of immigration and unemployment?

Answer 11

It was marked by low immigration and high unemployment due to tightened immigration laws and restrictions on merchant seamen.

Question 12

What was the significance of the rise of the anti-Semitic Blackshirts in Britain?

Answer 12

Their attempted march through East London’s Jewish area culminated in the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, where anti-fascist protesters successfully prevented their advance, showcasing the potential of united community responses against racism.

Question 13

How did Britain respond to Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany?

Answer 13

While some Jewish refugees were accepted, many were refused entry due to strict immigration policies and rising anti-Semitism.

Question 14

What was the Kindertransport?

Answer 14

The Kindertransport was a rescue effort that brought about 10,000 Jewish children to safety in the UK in 1938 and 1939, providing them refuge from Nazi persecution.

Question 15

What demonstrated the potential for successful community response to racism during this period?

Answer 15

The Battle of Cable Street in 1936, where Jews and non-Jews united to defend their streets against the anti-Semitic Blackshirts, highlighted the effectiveness of collective action against racism.

Question 16

What happened to ‘enemy aliens’ during World War Two?

Answer 16

Many, including members of the large Italian community, were interned, similar to what occurred during World War One.

Question 17

What role did colonial troops play during World War Two?

Answer 17

Large numbers of colonial troops fought for Britain, with merchant convoys comprising many African, Arab, and Indian seamen, often from port cities like Cardiff and Liverpool.

Question 18

What was the post-war immigration policy towards Polish servicemen?

Answer 18

Polish servicemen living in the UK were permitted to stay and were allowed to be joined by their families after the war.

Question 19

Why did migrants from Commonwealth countries begin coming to the UK in the late 1940s and 1950s?

Answer 19

They came due to job shortages in their own countries and Britain’s need for workers. They primarily worked in sectors with labor shortages, settling in areas of cheaper housing in cities like London and Birmingham, but faced frequent racial discrimination.

Question 20

How did immigration change as the British economy improved in the late 1950s and 1960s?

Answer 20

Immigration increased to fill vacancies in factories, particularly in London, the North, and the Midlands. Men usually arrived first, followed by their families, leading to increasingly multicultural cities. However, large-scale emigration of Britons to countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand resulted in a net decrease in the UK population.

Question 21

What were the consequences of increased immigration in the late 1950s and 1960s?

Answer 21

It led to a rise in anti-immigrant politics, notably expressed by Enoch Powell’s 1968 speech in Birmingham and Margaret Thatcher in 1978.

Question 22

How were Asian refugees from East Africa received in the UK?

Answer 22

They faced hostility from sections of the press and protests organized by anti-immigration groups, notably the National Front, which advocated for banning all non-white immigration. Anti-racist activity, led by second-generation migrants, included mass demonstrations and music festivals.

Question 23

What were the social tensions and legislative responses to racial tension in the early 1980s?

Answer 23

High youth unemployment, poor social conditions, racist murders, and anger at police tactics resulted in violent confrontations in cities like London, Leeds, Birmingham, and Liverpool. In response, new legislation like the Race Relations Act of 1965 made racial discrimination illegal, while successive governments tightened immigration controls with acts like the Race Relations Act of 1968 and the Race Relations Act of 1975.

Question 24

What was the impact of the UK’s membership in the European Union (EU) on immigration?

Answer 24

Membership in the EU allowed for the ‘free movement of workers,’ enabling individuals from EU member countries to work in any other member country. During the early 2000s, when Britain’s economy was flourishing, hundreds of thousands of people from across Europe migrated to work in service industries, resulting in a net increase in immigration to the UK.

Question 25

How did the financial crash of 2008 influence immigration politics in the UK?

Answer 25

The financial crash led to the growth in popularity of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), which campaigned for the UK to leave the EU and advocated for an end to ‘mass uncontrolled immigration.’ Immigration became a major political issue during the 2015 general election and the 2016 EU membership referendum.

Question 26

What factors contributed to an increase in refugees and displaced people globally during this period?

Answer 26

Regional and civil wars led to an acute rise in the number of refugees and displaced people worldwide. Many asylum seekers made their way to Britain, but increasingly strict asylum and immigration laws made it difficult to obtain refugee status. Wars and instability in the Middle East and parts of Africa displaced millions, with some attempting to reach the UK via Europe or ending up in refugee camps outside Calais.

Question 27

What societal issues arose in the wake of UK involvement in Middle Eastern wars and terrorist incidents?

Answer 27

There was a rise in anti-Semitic incidents and a sharp increase in Islamophobic attacks. These events contributed to heightened tensions and divisions within British society.

Question 28

How did the increasing cultural diversity in Britain impact societal debates?

Answer 28

Britain became increasingly culturally diverse, not only in cities but also in smaller communities, leading to deep cultural and social effects. Debates surrounding British ‘identity’ and the merits of ‘multiculturalism’ were hotly contested and continued to divide public opinion.