West Indian Assessment Revision Flashcards
Reasons for the Windrush Generation
Life was very hard in the Caribbean after WW2.
Jamaica had been devastated by a hurricane (1944).
There was little to no tourist industry as a result.
The price of sugar, the island’s main export was at an all time low.
Many West Indians saw this as an opportunity as they spoke English and could get away from their hard life in their homeland.
Why were the West Indians allowed into Britain?
This is because they were part of the British Empire and were granted British Citizenship and a British Passport if they came over and worked in Britain (this was because the small number of working people after WW2).
What was the British Nationality Act?
The British Nationality Act (of 1948) was an act that allowed everyone in the Commonwealth (the British Empire) British Citizenship and a British Passport. This meant you could go to the country and work there legally.
What Ship on 22nd June, 1948 docked in a which Port
A Ship called Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks in London.
Why were immigrants so hated by some White People?
Many immigrants were hated on, due to the fact that some British people thought that they were stealing everyones jobs and they were always treated with a degree of suspicion due to their accents and their skin colour. This provoked hostile attacks especially towards the West Indians
What happened as a result of racial tensions?
Racial Tensions later on in the 40’s-70’s meant that black people were treated differently by the public for no real reason other than their skin colour. Things like racist banners up on streets, sign saying ‘No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs’, denial of jobs, low pay and poor housing conditions.
Who was Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell was a Conservative MP and he was very anti-immigration for his whole political career. He was best known for his ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech in 1968 and it was extremely controversial. Some people were totally against these ideas like The Times,who branded it an ‘Evil Speech’.
Why did Enoch Powell gain so much support so quickly?
He was given a lot of support from the Working Class ‘British’ Public as they hated on immigrants because it was thought that they were stealing their jobs and were seen as different and weird due to their accents and skin colour.
What did most West Indians Work as?
While some of them got work at good jobs, mots did not, whatever their qualifications, ended working as cleaners, ticket collectors and hospital porters.
What were the West Indians wearing on Empire Windrush and why?
The West Indians wore their best suits when Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury Docks to try and give the English people a good impression of them, so they’d be treated well and given jobs.
Things that people think are British actually are not:
Full English - Sausages (German), Baked Beans (America), Black Pudding (European Monks).
Fish and Chips - First opened by a Jewish Immigrant.
Pizza - Italian
Kebabs - Turkish
Tea - Originated in China
NHS- is it British?
20% of Hospital Doctors and 16% of GP’s are of South Asian Decedent. Around 30% of Doctors are foreign born.
Also, around 12% of pharmacists in Britain are of Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi decent.
