Minority rights

Question 1

What were the causes of the Minority Rights campagins? (5)

Answer 1

• Britain is a nation of immigrants.
• In 1948 492 people arrived from Jamaica. Through the 1950’s-1970’s 1.4 million migrants came to Britain from commonwealth countries after the government introduced the British Nationality Act which allowed anyone from the Commonwealth to come to Britain and gain British citizenship.
• At first migrants were requested to help the rebuild after the war; nurses were recruited from the Caribbean for the NHS and the London transport network recruited 4,000 workers in 1956.
• Immigrants tended to the unskilled, low-paying jobs no matter how skilled they were.
• 75% of the immigrants from the commonwealth were males; this was because they would send some of their wages to their family in their home country.

Question 2

Why was there a dramatic increase in racism in the 1960s?

Answer 2

1960’s a dramatic increase in migration saw a dramatic increase in racism

Question 3

How did landlords be racist towards migrants in the 1960s?

Answer 3

Landlords in particular bullied migrants and specifically increased rents for them and banks wouldn’t give them mortgages

Question 4

What year was there violence in Notting Hill? What happened?

Answer 4

1958 there was serious racial violence in Notting Hill with some black homes and shops being attacked

Question 5

Who was Enoch Powell?

Answer 5

A racist conservative MP who fuelled the ‘National Front’ party (far right)- shared common view that Britain should be pure white nd everyone else should go home- a lot of people had this view
‘River of Blood’ speech- highlighted that immigration caused tensions as multi-cultural society didn’t work and needed to be stopped

Question 6

What year was the tha National Front formed? Whta did theydo?

Answer 6

1967

It called for an end to immigration and stirred up racial hatred

Question 7

What were the short term consequences of the Minority Rights campagins? (2)

Answer 7

• The government introduced two Commonwealth Immigration Acts in 1962 and 1968 to limit black and Asian immigration.
• 1965 – Race Relations Act made some types of racial discrimination illegal. 1968 – Race Relations Act was stronger and extended to employment and housing. 1976 – Race Relations Act set up a commission for racial equality to encourage better relations between ethnic groups and used the law to prevent racial discrimination.

Question 8

What were the long term consequences of the Minority Rights campagins? (4)

Answer 8

• Brixton riots 1981 - After a house fire in Brixton in January of 1981 in which 5 black youths died, many people believes the police were unwilling to protect black people.
• Brixton had the highest crime rates in London and the police used stop and search tactics; they were 7 to 8 times more likely to stop young black people than young white people.
• On the afternoon of 11th April 1981 a running battle developed between the crowd and police after a policeman was hit in the head by a brick.
• Nearly 300 police were hurt and 100 vehicles were destroyed and 82 arrests were made.