Migration c790 to the present day, Part 4: Britain in the 20th century Flashcards
How much land did the British Empire cover?
At its peak, in 1921, it covered a quarter or the world’s total land area.
How many people lived in the British Empire?
At its peak, 450 million people lived in the British Empire.
What was the economic impact of the World Wars on Britain?
They weakened Britain. After the Second World War, Britain was completely bankrupted.
Why did many colonies want independence?
- They had fought in the World Wars
- They wanted to run their own country
When was the Indian National Congress founded?
1885
What contribution did India make in WW1?
They provided soldiers, food, materials and finance to Britain.
When did the Indian independence movement start to become more popular?
In the 1920s, under Mohandas Gandhi’s leadership
When is the Government of India passed?
1935
What does the Government of India do?
It allows India to run its own affairs, except the army.
However, it is still part of the BE and is ruled by a viceroy.
What group is formed for Indian Muslims?
The Muslim League
What does the Muslim League call for?
A country for Indian Muslims
When does Britain offer independence to India?
1946
How is India divided up?
Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan
When does Pakistan become independent?
14th August 1947
When does India become independent?
15th August 1947
When was Gandhi assassinated?
January 1948
Who assassinated Gandhi?
A Hindu extremist who hated his tolerance for Muslims.
When did the Suez Crisis happen?
1956
What caused the Suez Crisis?
Egypt had taken control of the British-French owned Suez Canal.
What was Britain and France’s reaction to Egypt’s takeover of the canal?
They landed with troops in the area, backed by Israel, who also sent troops.
What was the US and UN’s reaction to the Suez Crisis?
They both condemned the British and French invasions.
What was the outcome of the Suez Crisis for the British Government?
- The Prime Minister resigned in disgrace
- They realised they could no longer go to war if the rest of the world disapproved.
When did the campaign for independence in West Africa begin?
In the 1920s
What did the National Congress of British West Africa ask the British?
For more control of their own affairs, but the British refused.
When did the campaigns for independence in West Africa become more popular?
1940s
Who was the key independence leader in the Gold Coast?
Dr Kwame Nkrumah
When did Nkrumah win the elections?
In 1951, whilst he was still in jail, and 1956, after which the British agreed to leave.
When did the Gold Coast achieve independence?
In March 1957
What did the Kenya African Union campaign for?
Independence and access to white-owned land
Who were the Mau Mau?
A violent resistance group to colonial rule.
Who was the leader of the Kenya African Union?
Jomo Kenyatta
How long did the Mau Mau Rebellion last?
Eight years
When did Kenya achieve independence?
12 December 1962, Kenyatta, who had been released from prison in 1961, became Prime Minister.
When did Irish people migrate to England after 1945?
In the 1950s and 1960s
When did people from the West Indies migrate to England after 1945?
Many from 1948 to 1970
When did people from Cyprus migrate to England after 1945?
In 1950s, and further arrivals in the 1970s.
When did people from Europe migrate to England after 1945?
Mainly from the 1930s to the 1950s
Why did Irish people migrate to England?
Jobs, better pay, and joining families.
Why did people from the West Indies migrate to England?
They were encouraged to come to fill the labour shortage.
Why did people from Cyprus migrate to England?
Because of violence and Turkey’s invasion of the island.
Why did people from Europe migrate to England?
Fleeing from Nazi and Russian rule.
How many Jews fled the Nazis in the 1930s?
In the 1930s, around 60,000 German Jews fled the Nazis.
When did people from East Asia migrate to England?
1950s and 1960s
Why did people from East Asia migrate to England?
Looking for work, escaping poverty and hardship
When did people from South Asia migrate to England?
Late 1940s and 1950s
Why did people from South Asia migrate to England?
To flee the violence and fighting during the partitioning of India.
When did Idi Amin overthrow the Ugandan leader?
1971
Who was Idi Amin?
He rose to the highest rank possible for a black man in the British colonial army.
When did Amin expel all Asians from Uganda?
1972
When was Amin overthrown?
1979
When was the British Nationality Act passed?
1948
What was the British Nationality Act?
It gave British citizenship to all who lived within the British Empire. They could all go to work in Britain.
When did the Empire Windrush first bring immigrants to Britain?
June 1948
How many immigrants from the West Indies were arriving in Britain?
By 1960, 40,000 West Indian immigrants were arriving each year.
What was the attitudes preventing immigrants from renting houses and getting jobs called?
The ‘colour bar’
When did Claudia Jones come to Britain?
She gained asylum in 1955
What newspaper did Claudia Jones found?
The West Indian Gazette
When was the West Indian Gazette founded?
1958
How did the Notting Hill Carnival start?
Claudia Jones launched an annual ‘Mardi Gras’ event, that was principally aimed at West Indian immigrants. It eventually became the Notting Hill Carnival.
What is the Notting Hill Carnival?
One of the largest street festivals in the world.
When did the Falklands War happen?
1982
When were the Falklands claimed by the British?
They were claimed in 1833
What are the Falklands called in Spanish?
Las Islas Malvinas
Who lived on the Falkland Islands?
The majority of the population of about 2000 are of British descent.
Who was the leader of Argentina at the time of the Falklands War?
General Galtieri
Why did Argentina invade the Falkland Islands?
The Argentinian economy was doing badly. Galtieri hoped a victory would restore morale in his country.
When did the invasion of the Falklands start?
2nd April 1982
How many Argentine troops invaded the islands?
12,000
Who was the British Prime Minister at the time of the Falklands War?
Margaret Thatcher
How many ships did the British send to the Falklands?
100 ships
How many troops did the British send to the Falklands?
28,000 troops
When did the conflict in the Falklands end?
14 June, when the Argentines surrendered.
What did the Falklands War cost militarily?
The British lost 6 ships, a further 10 were damaged, lost 34 aircraft.
How much money was spent on the Falklands War?
£2.5 billion
When was Thatcher re-elected?
1983
What was the long term impact of the Falklands War?
It increased international respect for Britain, who was seen as a fading world power.
When is the ECSC formed?
1951
What does the ECSC stand for?
European Coal and Steel Community
What does the ECSC do?
It combines the member countries’ coal and steel industries together.
What is the ECSC renamed to?
EEC
What does EEC stand for?
European Economic Community
When is the ECSC renamed?
1957
Who are the founding members of the ECSC?
France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg
When is Britain admitted to the EEC?
1973
When is the first UK referendum held for remaining part of the EEC?
1975
What was the result of the first referendum?
Two to one in favour of staying in the EEC.
When were the first elections for the European Parliament held?
1979
What is the Maastricht Treaty?
It renamed the community as the European Union, it for
When was the Maastricht Treaty signed?
1992
When did the Maastricht Treaty come into force?
1993
When is the Euro introduced?
2002
How many member states were there in the EU in 2013?
28
When was the second UK referendum held?
2016
What was the result of that second referendum?
52% Leave
48% Remain
When did the UK officially leave the EU?
2020
What group of countries joined the EU in 2004?
Eight eastern European countries who had recently achieved independence from the USSR.
How many Eastern European immigrants came to Britain when they joined the EU?
In two years, around 600,000 of them came.
Why was there an influx in migration from outside the EU after WW2?
- They were encouraged to come to Britain
- Many came from war-torn countries and came as refugees.
