Minority Rights

Question 1

Describe the MV Windrush

Answer 1

• 1948- brought first trickle of migrants from West Indies

Question 2

Describe immigration to Britain in the 20th century

Answer 2

• 50s-70s - 1.4 million migrants came to Britain from commonwealth countries in the Caribbean, Asia and Africa
• 1958- 210,000 people from the Commonwealth living and working in Britain (75% male, lots of Poles)
• 8,000 Italians invited to work brickworks in Bedford
• 1/2 lived in London (Brixton, Notting Hill, Hackney)
• ethnic minority clusters in East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire

Question 3

Describe jobs open to immigrants

Answer 3

• NHS actively recruited nurses and trainee nurses in the Caribbean
• 1956- London Transport launched plan to recruit 4,000 workers and paid their fares
• mostly ended up doing unskilled, poorly paid jobs
• unofficial colour bar- racism

Question 4

Describe housing available to immigrants

Answer 4

• no council housing
• banks would not give mortgages
• worst properties with highest rents

Question 5

Describe Peter Rachman

Answer 5

• landlord
• owned 100 properties in Notting Hill area
• exploited and bullied immigrants

Question 6

Describe the political racism faced

Answer 6

• 1964- Labour MP for Smethwick lost seat to openly racist Conservative
• 1968- Enoch Powell- Rivers of Blood speech- called for repatriation of immigrants
• sacked from Edward Heath’s shadow cabinet, London dock went on strike in support

Question 7

Describe the National Front

Answer 7

• founded 1967
• whites-only far-right party
• marched in immigrant areas
• wanted ban on non-white immigration and compulsory repatriation for current migrants
• never won a seat in Parliament
• pinnacle- 20,000 members
• split in 1980s

Question 8

Describe the consequences of immigration

Answer 8

• changed the way we live, what we eat, how we shop, what we wear and where we holiday
• 1950- 2 Indian restaurants in England
• 2015- 9,500
• successful Asian entrepreneurs established business

Question 9

Describe government action regarding immigration

Answer 9

• 1962- Commonwealth Immigrants Act
• 1965- Race Relations Board set up
• 1968- Race Relations Act
• 1971- Immigration Act
• 1976- Council for Racial Equality set up
• 2000- Race Relations Act
• 2010- Equality Act

Question 10

Describe Enoch Powell

Answer 10

• Conservative, Ulster Unionist

* 74% agreed with his view of immigrants being an economic burden