Enoch Powel- 'Rivers Of Blood'- And Immigration Laws Flashcards
Who was Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell was a politition who wrote the speech ‘Rivers of Blood’ and was sacked due to this.
‘Rivers of Blood’- Contents
In the speech (1968), he said that white people were becoming strangers in their own country and soon expected ‘the black man to have the whip hand over white men’. He claimed that the rivers of Britain would be filled with blood if immigrants continued to enter Britain and have the same rights as white men.
What were the dominent migrants in 1950s-60s?
West Indians were the largest group however thousands of Indians and Pakistans also arrived. Many chinese migrants came too as well as Sihks frok Punjab
1970
About 1,000 Indian restaurants and nearly 4,000 chinese takeaways in Britain. However there were familiar complaints of ‘foreigners taking white people’s jobs’.
What happened in 1958
Riots in Nottingham and London from white British People scared the guvernment into action.
What act was passed in 1962?
The Commonwealth Immigrants Act was passed by the government, meaning that people could only enter Britain from commonwealth countries if they were skilled professianals and had permission to work in Britain.
What happened in 1964?
A conservative candidate stood for election to parliament with anextremelly racist slogan and won.
What groupwas formed in 1967?
The National Front was formed as a group against immigration and by 1970 they had around 10,000 members.
What act was passed in 1965?
The Race Relations Act was the first law to directly address racism. It made discrimination illegal. It also set up the Race Relations board to promote good race relations; this only applied in public places.
What law was passed in 1968?
The Commonwealth Immigration Act meant immigrants had to show a closerelation with Britain. The Race Relations Act was also passed in 1968 making it illegal to refuse housing or employment due to race.
What was the reaction to Enoch Powell’s speech?
Powell was sacked and many politicians publically critised him. The times called it an ‘evil speech’. However Powell had many supporters such as the national Front and 1,000 dockworkers went on strike at his sacking. Grouos that supported him had around 20,000 members by 1974 going on marches in protest.
What Act was passed in 1971?
The Immigration Act of 1971 severely restricted migration from the commonwealth unless they had a parent or grandparent born in Britain.
What law was made in 1976?
A tougher race relations act was introduced to protect immigrants’ rights. Thid axt outlawed all discimination and also set up the Commission for Racial Equality to make sure the new laws were followed.
