Attitudes To Immigration + Racial Violence

Question 1

What was the immigrant experience in 1950s

Answer 1

-new commonwealth — countries became independent revelry e.g. India, Pakistan
-old commonwealth — countries became independent ages ago e.g. Australia, Mew Zealand, Canada
-1953 evident enthusiasm commonwealth ideal at Queen coronation
-new commonwealth immigrants arrived in empire windrush 1948 caused both social change + tensions
-empire windrush — sailed Jamaica to London 1948 with 492 migrants + voyage symbol of new wave immigration
-1948 onwards 250000 arrived in Br

Question 2

What were the public attitudes to immigration

Answer 2

-mixed — some felt tolerance + getting along but many unpleasant racist attitudes
-authorities deemed immigration economically desirable + hoped social tensions would ease but this was altered by the racial tensions + race riots

Question 3

What was the outward migration from Br

Answer 3

-1950s Australia attract new citizens offering assisted passages to help with jobs + housing
-1960s total inward 1.25 m + outward 1.92 m

Question 4

What were the causes of the Notting Hill race riots

Answer 4

-popular newspapers reporting worries about immigrants + their cleanliness, sexual habits + criminality
-boarding houses signs ‘no dogs, no black + no Irish’
-Teddy Boys went ‘black burrying’ + chalked ‘keep Br white’ on walls
-young male competition + territory — men angry they stole their jobs + their women
-Notting hill had resentful + impoverished white population
-most attackers overwhelmingly going white men looking for trouble

Question 5

What happened during the Notting Hill race riots

Answer 5

-aug 1958 outbreaks serious violence in Notting Hill which had large concentrations carribbeans
-gangs white youths went ‘n***** hunting’ after pub brawls
-first was mostly white youths attacking but then spread + policemen purposefully arresting blacks
-police unprepared + lacked experience dealing with race riots

Question 6

What was the role of the police in the riots

Answer 6

-arrested more non-white than white
-didn’t stop riot but encouraged it + spotted out non- whites to be beaten
-police reported they weren’t race riots but just accidents or acts of hooliganism
-racist themselves
-black community lost faith in police

Question 7

What were the consequences of the riots

Answer 7

-hundred arrested + majority were working class men
-many white rioters members of facist white defence league
-sentencing of 9 white youths well known as example of ‘exemplary sentencing’ of 4 years instead of arresting loads
-huge distrust in police among immigrant community + white working class
-increase in emigration back to Caribbean
-campaign groups try + close open boarder e.g. Birmingham immigration control association + it concluded sexual jealousy, poor pay + Teddy boys main causes

Question 8

What was the commonwealth immigrations act 1962

Answer 8

-govt reluctant use legislation control immigration + lab strongly opposed act but didn’t repeal after 1964 win
-it restricted number immigrants + applicants had have work permits which given mainly to skilled migrants like doctors