Attitudes towards immigrants in the 1970s Flashcards
When was the Immigration Act passed and what did it do?
- It restricted the right of people from the New Commonwealth from coming to Britain unless they had a guaranteed job and at least one grandparent born in Britain.
Desribe how Heath made exceptions to the Immigrations Act.
Due to the persecution of Ugandan Asians under Idi Amin in the early 1970s, 28,000 Ugandan Asians arrived in Britain.
Describe the amount of immigration by 1974.
1 million New Commonwealth immigrants had come to Britain - 325,000 from the West Indies, 435,000 from India and Pakistan and 150,000 from Africa.
Describe the London Borough council elections in 1974.
Only 10 non-white councillors were elcted. This increased to 35 by 1978 but still did not reflect the size of the immigration.
What did Labour pass in 1976 and what did it do?
Race Relations Act to try and tackle discrimination on the basis of race.
What did the Race Relations Act establish?
The Commision for Race Equality which had the power to instigate investigations and compel witnesses to appear in front of it.
What was the National Front?
A political party founded in 1967 by John Tyndall to oppose non-white immigration.
What impact did the National Front have on society?
It never won elections but by 1976 it had 20,000 members and put up 90 candidates in the February 1974 election. By 1977 it was being described as Britain’s fourth largest political party.
What did Margaret Thatcher announce in the late 1970s?
That the Conservative party would toughen up immigration policy even further to limit the number of immigrants coming in.
What did the Trades Council for East London show between 1976 and 1978?
There were 100 incidents of violence against immigrant communities, including 2 murders and assaults on Asians and Afro-Caribbeans rose by a third.
Describe attempts to combat this violence.
Movements such as Rock Against Racism set up in 1976
Anti-Nazi League was set up in 1977.
Describe the police in the 1970s.
They were seen as ‘institutionally racist’. In 1976, 70/22,000 Metropolitan Police officers from an ethnic minority.
Describe cultural progress in race relations.
- Black footballers such as Justin Fashnau and John Barnes were common on the pitch.
- Reggae and ska became popular
- Local councils followed policies of multiculturalism.
Despite cultural progress, was racism still present?
Racism was still present at football matches and on TV. In 1980 the Commission for Racial Equality warned that ‘racial prejudice is still rife… the Government had been disappointingly inadequate’.
