Immigration 1918-79 Flashcards
What percentage of the population in Britain was non-white in 1979?
4 percent
This figure is likely to fall to nearer 90 percent in the next few years.
What was a key reason for the growth of a multiracial society in 20th-century Britain?
The existence and decline of the British Empire
The British Empire was restyled as the Commonwealth in 1949.
What impact did the 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act have on colonial residents?
Redefined their status
Colonial residents were legally British citizens until this act.
During which decades did the vast majority of non-white immigration to Britain occur?
Late 1950s and 1960s
This period was driven by post-war economic recovery.
What was the general attitude of the British government towards immigration from the Commonwealth?
Reluctant to take action to prevent it
This reluctance was due to fears of antagonizing colonial leaders.
What event in 1958 forced government legislation to curtail immigration?
Eruption of violence in a few areas
This violence highlighted the failure of local efforts to integrate racial minorities.
What challenges did racial minorities face when settling in Britain?
Prejudice and racism
Earlier waves of white immigrants also faced prejudice, but racism added further barriers.
By 1979, how did the British society view newly arrived racial minorities?
They had a lot to offer British society but faced casual prejudice
This prejudice was not always politically organized.
Fill in the blank: The four major national groups in Britain have been joined by waves of migrants seeking to escape _______.
persecution
True or False: The population of non-whites in Britain was 99.8 percent until 1945.
False
The population was predominantly white, with non-whites making up 0.2 percent until 1945.
What were the backgrounds of the diverse groups that settled in Britain?
Cultural, religious, social, and educational backgrounds
These groups included a wide range of immigrants.
What was the immigration policy in Britain before 1905?
Any individual who made it to Britain was allowed to settle, except for a few restrictions that began with the 1905 Aliens Act.
What prompted the first restrictions on immigration in Britain?
A wave of anti-Semitic attacks in the 1880s and 1890s drove around 50,000 Jews from Eastern Europe to settle in poor areas of London.
What were the requirements for immigrants after the 1905 Aliens Act?
Immigrants had to demonstrate an ability to make a living, possess £5, and be genuine religious or political refugees.
What significant event occurred in 1948 regarding immigration?
The British Nationality Act was enacted, and the SS Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks.
What were the race riots that occurred in 1958?
The Nottingham and Notting Hill race riots highlighted racial tensions in Britain.
What did the 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act do?
It restricted immigration from Commonwealth countries.
What was established by the First Race Relations Act in 1965?
The Race Relations Board was established to address racial discrimination.
What did the Second Race Relations Act in 1968 accomplish?
It made it illegal to refuse housing, employment, or public services based on colour, race, or ethnic origin.
What was the impact of the 1914 British Nationality and Status Aliens Act?
It introduced the first modern passports to prevent wartime espionage.
How did anti-Semitism manifest in Britain between 1933 and 1939?
Despite the arrival of 300,000 Jews fleeing Nazi persecution, there was significant anti-Semitic hostility.
What was the Kindertransport?
It was an initiative to bring Jewish children from Germany to Britain in 1938.
What was the ‘colour problem’ in Britain?
It referred to the racial tensions and the perception of non-white Britons during the interwar period.
What was the role of black organizations in interwar Britain?
They sought to empower black communities and raise awareness about racial issues.
What was the significance of the 1920 and 1925 Special Aliens Acts?
They required certain immigrants to register as aliens and allowed police to check their status.
What was the impact of World War II on racial attitudes in Britain?
The fight against Nazi racism shifted perceptions from racial inferiority to the necessity of diverse labor in crucial industries.
What was established by the First Race Relations Act in 1965?
The First Race Relations Act established the Race Relations Board.
What did the Second Race Relations Act of 1968 accomplish?
The Second Race Relations Act established the Community Relations Commission and made it illegal to refuse housing, employment, or public services on the grounds of colour, race, or ethnic origin.
What significant speech did Enoch Powell make in 1968?
Enoch Powell made the ‘rivers of blood’ speech.
What was the Kindertransport?
The Kindertransport was a program that allowed around 10,000 Jewish children to settle in Britain from 1938 to 1940.
What event triggered the Kindertransport?
The Kindertransport was triggered by the Nazi destruction of Jewish shops and synagogues on 8-9 November 1938.
What was the racial demographic of Britain before the 1950s?
There were very few non-whites in Britain before the 1950s, with most white Britons having limited contact with racial minorities.
What led to race riots in several ports in 1919?
Race riots in several ports in 1919 were largely fueled by resentful unemployed demobilised men.
What were the Special Restriction (Coloured Alien Seamen) Orders?
The Special Restriction Orders forced ‘coloured’ seamen to register as aliens in Britain if they could not prove their British citizenship.
What was the Indian Seamen’s Union?
The Indian Seamen’s Union was founded in 1926 to protest against the treatment of Indians in Britain.
What organizations were founded in 1931 to address racial issues?
The Joint Council to Promote Understanding between White and Coloured People in Britain and the League of Coloured Peoples were both founded in 1931.
Who was Paul Robeson?
Paul Robeson was an American-born singer and actor who supported anti-colonial black empowerment in interwar Britain.
What was the impact of the Second World War on immigration?
The Second World War led to an influx of black workers invited to work in crucial industries in Britain.
What was the role of the Royal Air Force from 1918 to 1997?
The Royal Air Force was involved in military operations and experienced some racial prejudice, primarily from white American servicemen.
What encouraged West Indian male workers to seek employment in Britain?
Severe post-war unemployment in the West Indies and wartime experiences encouraged West Indian male workers to seek employment in Britain.
What significant change occurred in 1942 regarding black people’s entry into Britain?
The revocation of the Alien Orders allowed many black people, mostly sailors and some stowaways, to enter Britain.
What impact did post-war economic recovery have on immigration?
Post-war economic recovery led to full employment and a demand for cheap labor, prompting the British government to recruit workers from Europe.
How many Poles were recruited as part of the Polish Resettlement Corps?
As many as 100,000 Poles, mostly ex-servicemen and their dependants, were recruited.
Who were the European Voluntary Workers?
The European Voluntary Workers were mainly displaced citizens from Eastern Europe and many Italians who joined temporarily.
What sectors in Britain advertised for vacant positions?
The National Health Service, textile firms in northern England, and London Transport advertised for workers.
What was the British Nationality Act of 1948?
The 1948 British Nationality Act made all people living in the Commonwealth British citizens.
Who were the first West Indian immigrants to arrive in Britain under the 1948 British Nationality Act?
The first were 492 West Indian passengers from the SS Empire Windrush who arrived at Tilbury Docks on 22 June 1948.
How many black immigrants settled in Britain each year following the arrival of the Windrush?
Around 3,000 black immigrants were settling each year in Britain in the following five years.
What was the significance of unofficial chains of migration?
Unofficial chains of migration allowed people from specific Caribbean islands to settle in the same part of the UK.
What was the total ethnic minority population of the UK in 1951?
80,000
This was 0.2% of the total population.
What was the total ethnic minority population of the UK in 2001?
4,000,000
This was 7.3% of the total population.
What was the government response to growing ‘coloured’ populations?
The government set up the Inter-Departmental Committee on Colonial People to promote racial integration informally.
What did the Inter-Departmental Committee aim to do?
The committee aimed to ‘disperse’ black immigrants and offer industrial training courses for employment.
What challenges did immigrants face in terms of integration?
Councils lacked expertise to promote integration, and popular views were influenced by negative media portrayals.
What was the outcome of the sociological research led by Dr. Kenneth Little?
It highlighted the religious, class, and cultural divides within racial minority groups.
What event in 1958 highlighted racial tensions in Britain?
The race riots in Nottingham and Notting Hill.
What sparked the Notting Hill riots?
An attack by a Teddy Boy gang on a white woman with a black partner.
What was the public reaction to the Notting Hill riots?
British public opinion was shocked, leading to a re-evaluation of local councils’ effectiveness.
What were ‘friendship councils’?
Discussion forums for black and white residents, rather than effective action bodies.
What was the term ‘white flight’ referring to?
The movement of the original white population out of areas with higher black settlement.
What was the response of Caribbean governments to race relations in Britain?
Caribbean governments made a joint complaint to the British government about prejudiced policing and the impact of poor housing on their countrymen.
What organization was set up in 1958 to help immigrants in Britain?
The Organisation for the Protection of Coloured People was set up in 1958; it helped to organise rent strikes in Notting Hill until repairs were carried out on their housing.
What was established in 1958 to address race relations expertise?
The Institute of Race Relations in London was set up in 1958, under the leadership of Philip Mason.
What did the riots in Britain lead to regarding immigration legislation?
The riots led to renewed calls for immigration legislation, with many Conservative MPs arguing that integration could only be achieved by limiting the number of immigrants.
What was the impact of the 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act?
The Act allowed immigrants to settle provided they had a job voucher and enabled dependants of pre-1962 immigrants to join them, leading to an increase in immigration.
What was the effect of fear regarding immigration in the early 1960s?
Fear among potential black and Asian migrants that Britain would close its doors to further immigration led to a surge in numbers entering the country.
What was the ‘grandfather clause’ in the 1968 Commonwealth Immigrants Act?
The clause required would-be immigrants to have a British-born, adopted, or naturalised parent or grandparent to enter the country.
What did the 1971 Immigration Act change regarding work permits?
The 1971 Immigration Act replaced employment vouchers with 12-month work permits by the end of 1972.
What was the notable exception to immigration restrictions in the early 1970s?
27,000 Ugandan Asians were admitted after being expelled by dictator Idi Amin.
What did the 1960 and 1968 Race Relations Acts aim to achieve?
These Acts banned incitement to racial hatred and racial discrimination in public places.
What was the purpose of the Race Relations Board established in 1966?
The Race Relations Board dealt with complaints about racial discrimination, although many saw it as ineffective.
What did the 1976 Race Relations Act accomplish?
It toughened laws against racial discrimination and set up the Commission for Racial Equality.
Who was Enoch Powell and what did he represent?
Enoch Powell was a politician known for his controversial views on immigration, which sparked significant public debate.
What was the National Front’s stance on immigration?
The National Front opposed immigration and multiculturalism, gaining support in the late 1960s.
What does contemporary media suggest about British people’s views by the end of the 1970s?
Many British people still held racist views. Racial minorities were often portrayed in patronising or confrontational ways.
What was the outcome of Oswald Mosley’s campaign in the 1959 general election?
He gained only eight percent of the constituency vote.
What slogan did Peter Griffiths use in the 1964 general election?
‘If you want a nigger for a neighbour, vote Labour.’
What was the National Front Party’s stance?
It opposed immigration and measures to improve race relations and multiculturalism.
How many members did the National Front Party have by the mid-1970s?
20,000 members.
What significant event occurred during Enoch Powell’s ‘rivers of blood’ speech in 1968?
He warned of a violent future for British multiracial society if immigration continued unchecked.
What was the public reaction to Enoch Powell’s speech?
Opinion polls suggested that 75 percent of the British public agreed with his speech.
What did Enoch Powell say about the future of the black man in Britain?
He claimed that in 15 or 20 years’ time, the black man would have the whip hand over the white man.
What was the state of racial integration in Britain by 1979?
It was unclear how far racial minorities would integrate, with indications of low levels of integration in housing and marriage.
What impact did immigrants have on British cuisine by the end of the 1970s?
British cuisine became increasingly influenced by foods from South Asia, Italy, and China.
What did Jack Straw declare during the 1997 general election regarding immigration?
He stated that we should not allow a cigarette paper to come between the Labour Party and the Tory government over immigration.
What does the text suggest about political integration for minority communities?
Political integration remains a long way off for some minority communities.
