24: Britain By 1957 Flashcards
(41 cards)
Public attitudes to immigration: what were they like at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953
There was evident enthusiasm for the commonwealth ideal
What did the new commonwealth immigrants follow in the wake of
West Indian migrants who arrived on the empire windrush of 1948
Which act were commonwealth immigrants encouraged to come to Britain under
The British nationality act
How many immigrants arriv d in Britain from West Indies and other parts of commonwealth
250,000
How many commonwealth immigrants had settled in Britain by end of 1957
210.000
Where were most immigrants from
West Indies
Immigrants from which countries were beginning to rise
India and Pakistan
Pull factors: Britain as mother country
Most immigrants would’ve learned about Britain at school and many would’ve had an unrealistic as a place to live and work in
Pull factors: economic growth
Many jobs available
British hotels and restaurants association, London transport, British railways and NHS Took advantage of cheap labour
Push factors: economy in home countries
Encouraged migration
Push factors: USA
Restrictions on immigration to the USA meant britain was now first choice for those who wished to improve their lives
What was the general feeling towards immigration for some
Tolerance and getting along
What were there many unpleasant instances of towards racism
Outright racism from host communities and resentment against immigrants
Compaints against immigrants: use of NHS and dole
When they hadn’t made social service contributions
Compaints against immigrants: the fact that they were prepared to work longer hours for less money, encouraging employers to
Keep wages low
Compaints against immigrants: bringing in
Crime
Compaints against immigrants: unwillingness to mix with
Local communities
How did where immigrants settled make situation worse
Settled in certain towns and cities
Why did immigrants tend to stay in a limited number of areas within these cities
Discrimination against non whites by landlords
How did immigrants face discrimination in the Work place
Businesses such as Ford Dagenham, vickers, Tate and Lyle enforced a quota system that allowed only 5% jobs to go to non white peipme
Known as colour bar
Why did lord Salisbury argue to ignore complaints made to them by immigrants
If gov took action against racism and discrimination it would make britiain even more desirable to immigrants
Why did authorities regard immigration as economically desirable
Filled low wage jobs
Which groups was racial temsiom encouraged by by late 1950s
Teddy boy gangs
Relations with the US regarding nuclear weapons: what had Britain worked closely with US to develop in WW2
Atomic bomb and in 1945 Truman promised this would continue