4.3) (1948 - c2010) post-war commonwealth immigration Flashcards
(40 cards)
what was the 1948 british nationality act?
affirmed the legal rights of commonwealth citizens to settle in the UK
why was there a labour shortage after WW2?
- many people died during WW2; less workers + construction workers were needed to rebuild destroyed cities
- creation of the NHS (in 1948) - the biggest employer in europe, which needed doctors, nurses etc.
- massive growth in transportation
- increase in emigration to australia, canada and new zealand
what was the empire windrush? and what was its significance?
- the empire windrush was a ship carrying 492 west indian immigrants to britain
did black immigration start with the windrush in 1948?
- no, black immigration actually started thousands of years ago and there were already established black communities in port towns. → a prominent black figure was john blanke
did the british government expect the arrival of the windrush?
- the arrival of the windrush took the british givernment by surprise and they were not welcomed by authorities
- minister of labour george isaacs: ‘i hope no encouragement will be given to others to follow them
how did the arrival of the windrush affect immigration from the carribean to britain?
- immigration from the carribean slowed down and more west indians were heading for the USA instead.
- it only picked up again once the USA had imposed controls
how many black immigrants had come to the UK by 1950?
`100,000
what sort of work did black immigrants do in britain after WW2?
nurses, bus conductors and factory workers
what were 4 examples of discriminatiom/persecution faced by ‘coloured’ immigrants in this period?
- organised attacks on indian seamen
- housing discrimination as well as being refused entry into public places - ‘no blacks. no dogs. no irish’
- a series of riots
where in manchester and london did black immigrants settle?
- tottenham and paddington in london
- moss side in manchester
what happened to the british economy at the end of the 1950s?
- the economy was in trouble so competition for employment increased
- immigrants were blamed for the fact that not as much migrant labour was now required
how did some politicians and the press stir up anti-immigrant feeling?
- daily sketch: ‘for years the white people have been tolerant. now their tempers are up.’
- daily mail: ‘should we let them keep pouring in?’
what effect did the politicians stirring up anti-immigrant feeling have on the immigrants?
- there were many organised attacks on those who weren’t white
- major violence in notting hill when a gang beat up five black men with metal bars
- several hundred men attacked black shops and homes with weapons like petrol bombs
what happened to kelso cochrane?
- may 1959, a 32 year old antiguan man was attacked by a white gang and stabbed to death
- many (of all races) stood for his funeral and the killer was only publicly named in 2011
what were the terms of the 1962 commonwealth immigrants act and what was the unintended outcome?
- the act stated that holders of the commonwealth passports no longer had the right to live and work in the uk and instead they had to apply for a limited amount of employment vouchers to those who had professional skills
- therefore, men who initially had come for work also brought their families with them so they too could gain residence before the law was set in stone.
what is chain migration?
migration of people to a specific location because relatives or members of the same nationality had previously migrated there
what was the bristol bus boycott and what was its outcome?
- in 1963, a group of young black residents decicded to boycott the bristol buses because the company refused to hire non-white crew
- the colour bar eventually ended
- politicians on the other hand accomodated racism and saw ‘coloured’ immigration as a threat to and cause of racial tension, therefore more laws to limit immigration were made
what impact did the 1962 commonwealth immigration act have on immigrants and their right to work?
- instead of having the right to work they had to apply for a limited number of employment vouchers
- although, these mainly went to white immigrants from australia, new zealand and canada etc.
- non-white people were least likely to get a voucher and therefore the labour party called the act a ‘cruel and brutal anti-colour legislation’
what does the term ‘salt, soap, soy’ mean?
the name given to chinese migration to britain and their change in occupations over time
- salt - they first did seafaring
- soap - then turned to the laundry business
- soy - and then to the family run takeaway restaurants that spread to many UK towns
why did many people emigrate (leave) the UK during this period? (between 1947 and 1972)
- they emigrated to seek better job opportunities and better lives elsewhere like the USA, canada and new zealand
- between 1947 and 1972, 500,000 people emigrated to australia
what did the royal commission on population reccomend in 1949?
- that the UK should take in 140,000 young people to prevent a decline in population
- 1947 economic survey said that the immigration should not be prevented by race or religion
who were the national front group, when were they formed and what did they want?
- formed in 1966
- they were a new racist and neo-fascist group that called for immigrants to be deported
what was the message enoch powell’s ‘rivers of blood’ speech?
- he believed that mass immigration would exhaust public services
- he predicted that there would be a civil war because of the nations intake of migrants (50,000 annually)
- ‘we must be mad as a nation permitting the annual inflow of some 50,000 dependants’
what was the impact of the ‘rivers of blood’ speech?
- marches supporting him and his racist ideas
- survey said that 75% of people in britain felt that there were too many immigrants
- barbara castle (labour) wrote that ‘powell helped to make a race war inevitable’
