5. Post-Colonial Ties

Question 1

In what ways was Britain proud of its political legacy in its former colonies?

Answer 1

Proud of creating new ‘nation states’ with their representative institutions and practices
Parliaments, ministries, wigged judges and British-style legal systems were all legacies of the Empire

Question 2

In what ways did the Commonwealth help maintain political ties with the colonies?

Answer 2

It’s emphasis on shared political tradition helped maintain ties
Regular Commonwealth Conferences took place at least once every 2 years normally in London

Question 3

In what ways did continued post-colonial ties enable Britain to maintain a significant international position?

Answer 3

The Commonwealth helped to bolster Britain’s international position, providing a strong and wide-ranging diplomatic network
Britain’s place in UN Security Council can be seen as reflection of Britain’s status acquired through empire and maintained through Britain’s world influence

Question 4

How did the Commonwealth still continue to strengthen British military power?

Answer 4

Britain remained a military power with global reach
It recruited citizens from Commonwealth nations who all remained eligible to serve with British armed forces

Question 5

Ways in which the Commonwealth continued to be financially linked to Britain

Answer 5

Major Commonwealth Economic Conference in 1952
City of London remained one of world’s major financial centres
Government made every effort to keep ex-colonies within the Stirling Area

Question 6

How significant was trade with the Commonwealth to Britain?

Answer 6

Britain’s imperial connections and international trade gave rise to multi-national companies with branches around the world
Commonwealth has important trading links that continued to be of major importance, especially given Britain’s exclusion from the EEC until 1973

Question 7

Why did British people migrate to Commonwealth countries post-war?

Answer 7

Experience of war
Continued rationing until 1954
Increased demand for labour in countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand

Question 8

How many Britons emigrated to Australia post-war?

Answer 8

87,100

Question 9

How many Britons emigrated to Canada post-war?

Answer 9

65,800

Question 10

Between 1946 and 1957, approximately how many people left Britain for the Dominions?

Answer 10

Approximately 1 million

Question 11

What did a 1948 survey show about the connection of the British people with people from the Dominions?

Answer 11

1948 survey - 25% of population had contact with relative(s) in the Dominions

Question 12

The role of the Monarch in the continuation of close relations with Britain’s former colonies

Answer 12

Queen remained a symbol of the Commonwealth
She personally reinforced the connections through regular Commonwealth visits
Held her own regular meetings with Heads of Government from Commonwealth countries
Many people in Commonwealth listened to Christmas Day speech

Question 13

In what ways other than the Monarchy did Britain remained culturally connected with its former colonies?

Answer 13

People in former colonies continued to use English names, live in anglicised communities with neo-Gothic churches and British-style railway stations and speak variations of British language
Union Jack retained in corner of many flags
Anglican church has more members in Africa than Britain
Boy Scout movements maintained its ties across former Empire
Sports such as Rugby and Cricket spread across Empire
Commonwealth Games takes place every 4 years
People from the Empire still eligible to receive Imperial Royal Honours like MBEs and OBEs
Patriotic British music played in last night of the proms

Question 14

To what extent did Britain maintain strong post-colonial ties with its former colonies? - strong ties

Answer 14

Military basis
Commonwealth
Continuation of established trade links
Immigration/emigration

Question 15

To what extent did Britain maintain strong post-colonial ties with its former colonies? - weak ties

Answer 15

Legacies of law and political systems in colonies
common language and some anglicised communities
Union Jack in corner of flags
Sports

Question 16

Migration to Britain from the empire before 1947

Answer 16

Relatively small numbers of colonial immigrants settling in Britain
Large numbers of Indian soldiers in Britain during WW1but their stay was temporary
Relatively little direct exposure to the Empire for most Britons

Question 17

Act that recognised the Empire’s contribution to the war

Answer 17

1948 British Nationality Act

Question 18

What did the British Nationality Act 1948 give?

Answer 18

Gave full British citizenship, including the right of free entry to Britain, top every inhabitant of the Empire-Commonwealth

Question 19

Empire Windrush

Answer 19

Steamship carrying 492 Jamaican passengers which arrived in 1948
Arrived without warning and authorities were forced to house the immigrants in temporary shelter
First post-war immigrants to attract media attention

Question 20

Recruitment drives in the 1950s to encourage people to migrate to Britain

Answer 20

As the economy recovered from war, there was plentiful and well paid unskilled work
Government encouraged immigration
Successful recruitment drives to encourage unskilled workers to take up work in public transport and NHS
1956 - London Transport took on nearly 4000 new employees, mainly from Barbados

Question 21

By 1958, how many West Indian immigrants were there in Britain from the Commonwealth?

Answer 21

115000

Question 22

Initial reactions in Britain to migrants in the 1950s

Answer 22

Initial British reaction to increased exposure to other races was curiosity mixed with uncertainty
Indifference was more common than intolerance in early 1950s

Question 23

Change in views towards migrants in Britain

Answer 23

As post-war boom slackened, prejudice and anxieties grew
Worries about the dilution of British culture and national identity which were coupled with a concern to protect houses and jobs

Question 24

What inequalities did immigrants face in Britain?

Answer 24

Bore the brunt of job redundancies
Had poorest housing in least desirable parts of towns

Question 25

British public response to arrival of migrants from the Empire: Teddy Boys

Answer 25

1958 saw gangs of ‘Teddy Boy’ youths attacking black people and violent riots broke out in Nottingham and Notting Hill

Question 26

British public response to arrival of migrants from the Empire: what anti-immigration movement increased its activities?

Answer 26

Oswald Mosley’s anti-immigration Union Movement

Question 27

British public response to arrival of migrants from the Empire: results of a 1962 attitudes survey towards immigration

Answer 27

90% of British population supported legislation to curb (reduce) immigration 80% agreed there were already too many immigrants in Britain

Question 28

British public response to arrival of migrants from the Empire: 1965 North London survey about attitudes to immigration

Answer 28

1/5 objected to working with black or Asian people 1/2 said they would refuse to live next to a ‘coloured person’ 9/10 disapproved of mixed marriages

Question 29

British public response to arrival of migrants from the Empire: who were racist attitudes strongest among?

Answer 29

The w/c communities that found themselves living in or near predominantly immigrant communities

Question 30

British public response to arrival of migrants from the Empire: what was common from Bradford to Luton?

Answer 30

‘Paki-bashing’ - attacks on anyone with black skin

Question 31

Efforts made to improve community relations and experience of immigrants

Answer 31

Steel band music performed by immigrants became popular at local pubs First Notting Hill Carnival took place in 1964 - set up by West Indian immigrants

Question 32

What Act reversed the British Nationality Act 1948?

Answer 32

1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act

Question 33

1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act

Answer 33

Attempt to control the escalating immigration Free migration to former colonial subjects was ended, even with a British passport Instead, a work permit scheme was out in place Irish were exempt and most white immigrants had skills which enabled them to obtain vouchers

Question 34

Consequence of Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962

Answer 34

In 12 months that followed, only 34,500 black applicants to work permit scheme arrived in Britain Received mass public support

Question 35

What election followed the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962?

Answer 35

1964 General Election which was strongly characterised by immigration issues

Question 36

Who ran for the Conservatives in the 1964 General Election and what was their slogan?

Answer 36

Peter Griffiths - “if you want a n**** for a neighbour, vote labour”

Question 37

Who won the 1964 General Election

Answer 37

Peter Griffiths (conservative)

Question 38

What was passed in 1965 to forbid discrimination in public places on the grounds of colour, race, or ethnic or national origins?

Answer 38

Race Relations Board

Question 39

What did a survey in Nottingham in the early 1960s found about the difference between Jamaican immigrants and Indian/Pakistani immigrants?

Answer 39

87% of Jamaicans said they felt British before they came to England and 86 were happy for their children to feel English 2% of Indians and Pakistanis felt British before arrival and only 6% wanted their children to feel English

Question 40

Why did Indians and Pakistanis not want their children to feel English?

Answer 40

They were often very hard working and had children who were high acheivers but never got any reward for their work and were always alienated

Question 41

Issues that remained in 1967 regarding the treatment and experience of immigrants

Answer 41

Language barriers Disparities in education, employment, housing and justice system

Question 42

Ways in which the British were welcoming to immigrants

Answer 42

British Nationality Act Race Regulations Board Notting Hill Carnival

Question 43

Ways in which the British were unwelcoming/aggressive to migrants

Answer 43

Racist groups like Teddy Boys Change to immigration rules Discrimination and violence

Question 44

To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - TV

Answer 44

People started to have TVs in their homes Shows such as "Till death do us part" and "Z Cars" had influence from the Empire

Question 45

To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - film

Answer 45

Many films were related to Empire and had imperial themes E.g. "Zulu" and "Khartoum" Show imperial heroes, white saviours and crazy, evil black people Positive portrayal of the Empire

Question 46

To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - news

Answer 46

Suez Crisis widely reported on but not condemned Actions of indigenous people condemned (E.g. Kikuyu people) Media largely accepted the loss of empire

Question 47

To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - festivals/celebrations

Answer 47

Empire Day ended in 1962 Colonial Exhibitions continued but became less significant over time

Question 48

To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - literature

Answer 48

Imperial novels of the past became classics Literature became more liberal

Question 49

To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - education

Answer 49

Still focused on imperial past Textbooks gave positive opinion about the Empire History showed the importance of Empire

Question 50

To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - views

Answer 50

Values were being more shaped by culture from America (E.g. music, films, TV) Views became more liberal (E.g. removal of death penalty and legalisation of homosexuality)