5. Post-Colonial Ties Flashcards
In what ways was Britain proud of its political legacy in its former colonies?
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
In what ways did the Commonwealth help maintain political ties with the colonies?
It’s emphasis on shared political tradition helped maintain ties
Regular Commonwealth Conferences took place at least once every 2 years normally in London
In what ways did continued post-colonial ties enable Britain to maintain a significant international position?
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
How did the Commonwealth still continue to strengthen British military power?
Britain remained a military power with global reach
It recruited citizens from Commonwealth nations who all remained eligible to serve with British armed forces
Ways in which the Commonwealth continued to be financially linked to Britain
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
How significant was trade with the Commonwealth to Britain?
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
Why did British people migrate to Commonwealth countries post-war?
Experience of war
Continued rationing until 1954
Increased demand for labour in countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand
How many Britons emigrated to Australia post-war?
87,100
How many Britons emigrated to Canada post-war?
65,800
Between 1946 and 1957, approximately how many people left Britain for the Dominions?
Approximately 1 million
What did a 1948 survey show about the connection of the British people with people from the Dominions?
1948 survey - 25% of population had contact with relative(s) in the Dominions
The role of the Monarch in the continuation of close relations with Britain’s former colonies
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
In what ways other than the Monarchy did Britain remained culturally connected with its former colonies?
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
To what extent did Britain maintain strong post-colonial ties with its former colonies? - strong ties
Military basis
Commonwealth
Continuation of established trade links
Immigration/emigration
To what extent did Britain maintain strong post-colonial ties with its former colonies? - weak ties
Legacies of law and political systems in colonies
common language and some anglicised communities
Union Jack in corner of flags
Sports
Migration to Britain from the empire before 1947
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
Act that recognised the Empire’s contribution to the war
1948 British Nationality Act
What did the British Nationality Act 1948 give?
Gave full British citizenship, including the right of free entry to Britain, top every inhabitant of the Empire-Commonwealth
Empire Windrush
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
Recruitment drives in the 1950s to encourage people to migrate to Britain
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
By 1958, how many West Indian immigrants were there in Britain from the Commonwealth?
115000
Initial reactions in Britain to migrants in the 1950s
Initial British reaction to increased exposure to other races was curiosity mixed with uncertainty
Indifference was more common than intolerance in early 1950s
Change in views towards migrants in Britain
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
What inequalities did immigrants face in Britain?
Bore the brunt of job redundancies
Had poorest housing in least desirable parts of towns
British public response to arrival of migrants from the Empire: Teddy Boys
1958 saw gangs of ‘Teddy Boy’ youths attacking black people and violent riots broke out in Nottingham and Notting Hill
British public response to arrival of migrants from the Empire: what anti-immigration movement increased its activities?
Oswald Mosley’s anti-immigration Union Movement
British public response to arrival of migrants from the Empire: results of a 1962 attitudes survey towards immigration
90% of British population supported legislation to curb (reduce) immigration
80% agreed there were already too many immigrants in Britain
British public response to arrival of migrants from the Empire: 1965 North London survey about attitudes to immigration
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
British public response to arrival of migrants from the Empire: who were racist attitudes strongest among?
The w/c communities that found themselves living in or near predominantly immigrant communities
British public response to arrival of migrants from the Empire: what was common from Bradford to Luton?
‘Paki-bashing’ - attacks on anyone with black skin
Efforts made to improve community relations and experience of immigrants
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
What Act reversed the British Nationality Act 1948?
1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act
1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act
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
Consequence of Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962
In 12 months that followed, only 34,500 black applicants to work permit scheme arrived in Britain
Received mass public support
What election followed the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962?
1964 General Election which was strongly characterised by immigration issues
Who ran for the Conservatives in the 1964 General Election and what was their slogan?
Peter Griffiths - “if you want a n** for a neighbour, vote labour”
Who won the 1964 General Election
Peter Griffiths (conservative)
What was passed in 1965 to forbid discrimination in public places on the grounds of colour, race, or ethnic or national origins?
Race Relations Board
What did a survey in Nottingham in the early 1960s found about the difference between Jamaican immigrants and Indian/Pakistani immigrants?
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
Why did Indians and Pakistanis not want their children to feel English?
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
Issues that remained in 1967 regarding the treatment and experience of immigrants
Language barriers
Disparities in education, employment, housing and justice system
Ways in which the British were welcoming to immigrants
British Nationality Act
Race Regulations Board
Notting Hill Carnival
Ways in which the British were unwelcoming/aggressive to migrants
Racist groups like Teddy Boys
Change to immigration rules
Discrimination and violence
To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - TV
People started to have TVs in their homes
Shows such as “Till death do us part” and “Z Cars” had influence from the Empire
To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - film
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
To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - news
Suez Crisis widely reported on but not condemned
Actions of indigenous people condemned (E.g. Kikuyu people)
Media largely accepted the loss of empire
To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - festivals/celebrations
Empire Day ended in 1962
Colonial Exhibitions continued but became less significant over time
To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - literature
Imperial novels of the past became classics
Literature became more liberal
To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - education
Still focused on imperial past
Textbooks gave positive opinion about the Empire
History showed the importance of Empire
To what extent did Empire continue to shape cultural and public attitudes in Britain 1947-67? - views
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)
