450: British attitudes and Cultures 1947-1967

Question 1

Name some economic ties Britain had to it’s empire post 1947.

Answer 1

• London was a financial capital, connected to former colonies through business and investment.
• Many British companies were multinational, with branches in former colonies.
• Britain’s exclusion from the EEC meant it was keen to retain an informal empire of economic ties.

Question 2

Name a political tie Britain had to the empire, other than the Commonwealth.

Answer 2

• British style institutions in many former colonies, e.g legal systems and parliaments.

Question 3

How did the Commonwealth keep Britain tied to the empire?

Answer 3

• With regular meetings every 2 years, it kept former colonies in regular political talks with Britain.
• Commonwealth citizens could still be awarded British honours.
• The Queen remained head of the Commonwealth.

Question 4

What part of the empire was migration greatest to in this period?

Answer 4

The dominions.

Question 5

Approximately how many people migrated from Britain to the dominions between 1947 and 1957?

Answer 5

1 million, Approx 2% of the population in 1947.

Question 6

In 1948, approximately how many Britons had contact with a relative in the dominions?

Answer 6

25%

Question 7

What are four reasons for migration from Britain to the empire and Commonwealth in this period?

Answer 7

• High labour demand in dominions.
• The wartime experience and continuation of rationing encouraged British citizens to seek better prospects.
• Some migration for civil service/colonial administration, but mostly white upper class men.
• National service abroad, before its abolishment in 1960.

Question 8

When was empire day abolished?

Answer 8

1962

Question 9

How did some former empire countries show cultural ties with their flags?

Answer 9

Some countries that gained independence in this period retained the union jack as part of their flags

Question 10

Name some cultural ties between Britain and its empire in this period.

Answer 10

• The Christmas day messages from the Monarch were still broadcast across the empire.
• The Boy Scout movement stayed connected across the empire.
• Sport; such as rugby, cricket, poker, football and snooker.
• The Commonwealth games brought the former empire together every 4 years.
• Words from various former colonies entered our language such as; bungalow, pyjamas and safari.

Question 11

What groundbreaking instruction was given to writers of the boy’s comic Eagle in this period?

Answer 11

That foreigners were not to be depicted as enemies or villians, and at least one child in any group group be from an ethnic minority.

Question 12

What happened to imperial themes in movies during this period?

Answer 12

They declined.

Question 13

What are 3 examples of films from this period with imperial backdrops/messages?

Answer 13

• North West Frontier (suggested British rule was necessary for order in India).
• Guns at Batasi (depicted the British role in ‘containing internal divisions’ in colonies)
• Lawrence of Arabia (more critical view of empire)

Question 14

How did the rise in TV continue to uphold imperial ideologies?

Answer 14

By portraying racist steroetypes and ridiculing immigrant communities.

Question 15

What migration promoting act was passed by the British government in 1958? What did it do?

Answer 15

British Nationality Act

- Allows all empire and commonwealth citizens British citizenship and entry to Britain.

Question 16

Give an example of an anti-immigration pressure group? When was it formed?

Answer 16

Birmingham Immigration Control Association, 1950s

Question 17

What did a 1962 immigration survey find out about British opinions?

Answer 17

• Found 90% of Britons wished to curb immigration.

- 80% felt too many people had already immigrated to Britain.

Question 18

What migration related act was passed in 1962 by the British government? What did it do?

Answer 18

The Commonwealth immigration act.

- Stops free entry and requires a work permit for immigration.

Question 19

How did the 1962 immigration act demonstrate racist ideologies?

Answer 19

• Generally white immigrants found it far easier to obtain work permits, and Irish people were even exempt.
• The act vastly reduced black and asian immigration.

Question 20

How many people were immigrating to Britain every year from 1962 to 1965?

Answer 20

50,000

Question 21

What amount had Britain’s black population reached in 1965?

Answer 21

Almost 1 million

Question 22

In 1965, what proportion of Britons said they didn’t approve of mixed race marriages?

Answer 22

9/10

Question 23

What British act was passed in 1965? What did it create?

Answer 23

• Race Relations act forbade racial discrimination in public places.
• Created the Race Relations Board.

Question 24

What was a main reason for high levels of immigration into Britain?

Answer 24

• Britain was actively encouraging immigration to fill ‘unskilled’ positions, with no permits required until 1962.