Migration: Britain in the Twentieth Century Flashcards
Define internal migration
When a person migrates within their own country
Why did Britain’s population rise between 1750 and 1900?
- better medical treatment
- improved food supplies
- improved sanitation
Define urbanisation
The increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas
Name three things that were used as propaganda to get the British public to support the empire
- magazines
- adverts
- commemoration plates
- nursery rhymes
- school books
Why was there a process of urbanisation in 19th century Britain?
- immigration from abroad: they were attracted to jobs in urban areas
- rural to urban migration: due to the rise in farm machinery, less labour was required on farms so workers left to find new jobs
Why did many people from Ireland migrate to Britain?
- to escape the extreme poverty in parts of Ireland and find better-paid jobs
- 1846: a disease called the ‘potato blight’ ruined the Irish potato harvest, causing many to starve. In order to avoid starvation, many fled to England
What is the name of someone who works building infrastructure such as canals and roads?
Navvies
What percentage of soldiers did the Irish make up in the British army?
40%
What did the Irish experience in England?
- religiously based discrimination and hate crimes as the Irish were devout Catholics in a majority Protestant country
- Irish blamed for increased crime rates as they tend to drink a lot, which would lead to violence
- Irish were blamed for spreading diseases due to their habitation in poor sanitation
- Irish were accused of taking jobs from the British, then when they couldn’t find work they were called lazy
What caused Jewish migration from Eastern Europe in the late 19th century and early 20th century?
Pogroms, which were a form of religious persecution in Russia as Jews were not a protected community by the government
What caused Jewish migration during WW2?
Holocaust
Where did many Jewish migrants settle?
East End of London
Give two impacts of the Jewish community in Britain?
- strong resentment towards them for ‘stealing jobs’
- led to the aliens act to restrict immigration, which was passed in 1905. It introduced categories of migrants who could be refused entry to Britain
- set up businesses such as Marks and Spencers
Explain the indenture system
Transportation to a new place is paid for by the person must work for their master for a certain period of time to pay off the debt
Give three examples of where the indenture system was used by the British
- British to America
- Tamils from South India picking tea on estates in Sri Lanka or tapping rubber in Malaysia
- Indians moving to Kenya and Uganda to build railways
How many Kenyan Asians were there by the late 1960s?
180,000
How did the Kenyan Asians play a vital role in the economy?
- businessmen
- bankers
- shop keepers
- professionals
How many convicts were sent to Australia over a 20 year period?
20,000
Why did many convicts decide to stay in Australia at the end of their sentence?
To become farmers due to the availability of land
Which countries had gained independence by 1922?
- New Zealand
- Canada
- south Africa
- Australia
- Egypt
What issues in Britain caused the move towards independence after WWII?
- Britain’s wealth supply was depleting
- many countries had been cut off from the supply of British goods –> no longer reliant on Britain
- overshadowed by the political and financial might of USA and the Soviet Union
What demands from colonies was Britain unable to fulfil which fuelled the move towards independence after WWII?
- due to the education system, people learned about political ideas such as democracy and freedom, which made them want this for their own countries
- Africans + Indians fought for Britain’s freedom but their countries were not yet free
- many in the colonies were nationalistic and wanted to revive old traditions which was only possible if Britain left
- some suggested that the British though that those of European descent were superior to non whites
Name two organisations who fought for Indian independence
- Indian National Congress
- Muslim League
What happened to India in 1947?
Partition to independent India and Pakistan
Which organisation in West Africa demanded independence?
National Congress of British West Africa
Who led the independence movement in the Gold Coast?
Dr Kwame Kkhrumah
When did Ghana gain independence?
1957
Which organisation campaigned for Kenyan Independence?
Kenya Africa Union led by Kenyatta
Which group led a violent campaign against white settlers in Kenya?
Mau Mau
When did Kenya gain independence?
1963
Why did those living in Hong Kong move to Britain?
When HK became a part of China in 1997, 50,000 people from their were given British Passport
What was the Suez Crisis?
In 1956, Egypt’s President Nasser took control of the British and French-owned Suez Canal. The canal was valuable to the British as it was a gateway to the Middle East. When talks failed, British and French troops invaded the Canal zone whilst Israel attacked from overhead. US + UN condemned the invasion and troops were forced to retreat
What was the impact of the Suez Canal?
- Britain couldn’t go to war to preserve their interests if the rest of the world disapproved
- therefore, they allowed for their colonies to have independence if they were stable and prosperous enough
Why is the Suez Canal important?
- Britain lost its role as a superpower + all of its colonies
- USA and the Soviet Union solidified as a world superpower
How many Caribbean soldiers fought for the British army in WWII?
10,000
What challenges did Jamaica face after WWII that acted as push factors?
- hurricane which devasted their buildings
- undeveloped tourism industry
- sugar exports were at an all-time low
- lack of job opportunities
- 1948: British National Act passed allowing those who lived in the Empire to become passport holders + entitled to work there
What was the name of the first ship which arrived with Caribbean migrants?
Empire Windrush
What challenges did the Caribbean population face in Britain?
- low-paid jobs
- faced with openly racist words on house rental signs
- several outbreaks of violence on black youth in Notting Hill and Nottingham
- discrimination in housing known as the ‘colour bar’
What impact did Caribbean migration have on Britain?
- newspapers full of stories of the ‘colour problem’ that was heading towards Britain and some politicians demanded that they had to be sent back
- most Jamaicans found work
- Notting Hill carnival began as a gesture of defiance from the black community
- 1962: gov. tried to slow down the Black people coming in and passed an immigration act
How many west Indian immigrants arrived each year by 1960?
40,000
Which country disputed British ownership of the Falkland Islands?
Argentina
Why did General Galtieri want to have a quick war to return the Falklands Islands to Argentina?
To distract the public from their economic problems
Did Britain join the European Coal and Steel community when it was created n 1951?
No
Why did Britain want to join the European Economic Community in the 1960s?
It was an economic success
Which country blocked Britain’s entry?
France
What powers does the European Parliament created in 1979, have?
Initially to advise but now it can pass laws which apply to all member countries
What did the Maastricht Treaty agree on in the 1990s?
Agreed to extend cooperation further to include foreign affairs and to accept more members in the future. The EEC has become the EU
Which did new members join the EU in the early 2000s?
Former Soviet Union countries had gained independence after the Cold War
Why do some people like the EU?
Strong trade links and collective security
Why do some people dislike the EU?
Britain has a unique history which should be preserved and worry about loss of ability to make decisions
