Modern Era Migration - Experiences of Migrants

Question 1

How many Germans and Austrians were interned during World War One, and what was their status as perceived by the government?

Answer 1

32,000 Germans and Austrians were interned during World War One, considered as ‘enemy aliens’ by the government.

Question 2

What happened to the wealth of the Germans and Austrians interned during World War One?

Answer 2

The government seized the wealth of the interned Germans and Austrians.

Question 3

What similar treatment did Germans and Italians receive during World War Two?

Answer 3

Germans and Italians received similar treatment during World War Two, including internment and seizure of wealth.

Question 4

How did some German and Italian internees during World War Two get transported, and what tragedy occurred during one such transportation?

Answer 4

Some German and Italian internees were transported by ship to Canada and Australia. In July 1940, a German submarine sank one of these ships, the Arandora Star, resulting in 805 deaths.

Question 5

When were the first releases of internees initiated, and what was the result by 1942?

Answer 5

The first releases of internees were initiated in August 1940 due to the outcry in Parliament. By 1942, fewer than 5,000 internees remained.

Question 6

What characterized immigration controls throughout most of this period?

Answer 6

Throughout most of this period, there were ever tighter controls on immigration.

Question 7

What was the requirement for immigrants under the Aliens Act of 1905?

Answer 7

Immigrants were allowed entry only if they had enough money to support themselves and a job to go to. Refugees were still permitted entry.

Question 8

What was the significance of the Status of Aliens Act of 1914?

Answer 8

Under the Status of Aliens Act of 1914, aliens had to register with the police and could be deported.

Question 9

What change did the Alien Registration (Amendment) Act of 1919 bring?

Answer 9

The Alien Registration (Amendment) Act of 1919 restricted certain jobs to aliens, limiting their employment opportunities.

Question 10

What was established by the Coloured Alien Seamen Order of 1925?

Answer 10

The Coloured Alien Seamen Order of 1925 implemented a ‘colour bar’ on merchant shipping jobs, discriminating against non-white alien seamen.

Question 11

What did the British Nationality Act of 1948 facilitate for Commonwealth citizens?

Answer 11

The British Nationality Act of 1948 allowed all Commonwealth citizens to obtain British passports and work in the UK.

Question 12

What was introduced by the Commonwealth Immigrants Act of 1962?

Answer 12

The Commonwealth Immigrants Act of 1962 implemented a voucher system to restrict the number of immigrants entering the UK.

Question 13

What change did the Commonwealth Immigrants Act of 1968 bring to immigration policy?

Answer 13

The Commonwealth Immigrants Act of 1968 restricted entry to the UK to only those with a father or grandfather born in the UK.

Question 14

How did the Immigration Act of 1971 modify immigration policy?

Answer 14

The Immigration Act of 1971 replaced vouchers with temporary work permits as a means of controlling immigration.

Question 15

What was the exception among the listed laws in terms of immigration restriction?

Answer 15

The British Nationality Act of 1948 differed from other laws as it opened doors for immigration due to the UK’s need for more workers after World War Two.

Question 16

What unintended consequence arose from the 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act?

Answer 16

The 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act, aimed at restricting immigration numbers, backfired as many men working in the UK realized they might not be readmitted if they left to visit their families, prompting them to bring their families and settle permanently.

Question 17

What change occurred in immigration policy concerning EU member states after the 1970s?

Answer 17

After the 1970s, immigration from EU member states had to be allowed by European law, shifting legislative focus mainly toward refugees and asylum seekers.

Question 18

What was the primary focus of most immigration legislation after the 1970s?

Answer 18

Following the 1970s, most immigration legislation primarily targeted refugees and asylum seekers, due to EU regulations requiring allowance of immigration from member states.

Question 19

What did the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act of 1993 aim to do?

Answer 19

The Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act of 1993 restricted who could be accepted as refugees, tightening the criteria for refugee status.

Question 20

What was the focus of the 1996 Asylum and Immigration Act?

Answer 20

The 1996 Asylum and Immigration Act made it illegal to employ asylum seekers without a work permit, aiming to regulate employment of asylum seekers.

Question 21

What change did the Immigration and Asylum Act of 1999 introduce regarding welfare for asylum seekers?

Answer 21

The Immigration and Asylum Act of 1999 mandated that asylum seekers receive food vouchers instead of welfare payments, altering the form of support provided to them.

Question 22

What was required by the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act of 2002 for individuals seeking citizenship?

Answer 22

The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act of 2002 introduced a requirement for individuals seeking citizenship to pass a ‘Living in the United Kingdom’ test, assessing their knowledge and understanding of life in the UK.

Question 23

What was the state of the immigration system by 2007?

Answer 23

By 2007, the immigration system was described as being out of control, marked by a substantial backlog of individuals claiming asylum whose cases had not been addressed.

Question 24

What measure was implemented to address the immigration issue by 2007?

Answer 24

To address the immigration problem, the UK Border Agency was established, aiming to manage and alleviate the backlog of asylum cases.

Question 25

What legislative actions were taken during the same period to improve community relations and combat racial discrimination?

Answer 25

Laws were passed during the same period to promote better community relations, prevent racial discrimination, and address racist hate crimes.

Question 26

What was the focus of the 1965 Race Relations Act?

Answer 26

The 1965 Race Relations Act made certain forms of racial discrimination illegal, marking a step towards equality in the UK.

Question 27

What change did the 1968 Race Relations Act introduce regarding discrimination?

Answer 27

The 1968 Race Relations Act expanded upon previous legislation by making discrimination illegal in employment and housing, further addressing racial inequality.

Question 28

What was established by the 1976 Race Relations Act?

Answer 28

The 1976 Race Relations Act established a Commission for Racial Equality, tasked with promoting racial equality and combating racial discrimination.

Question 29

What did the Crime and Disorder Act of 1998 aim to address?

Answer 29

The Crime and Disorder Act of 1998 implemented harsher punishments for hate crimes based on race or religion, aiming to deter and address such acts of discrimination and violence.

Question 30

How were immigrants often perceived during times of general hardship?

Answer 30

Immigrants were often perceived as targets, especially during periods of general hardship. They faced attacks, sometimes from British workers who viewed immigration as a threat to their own jobs.

Question 31

What conflict arose at the end of World War One involving returning soldiers and seamen?

Answer 31

At the end of World War One, returning soldiers clashed with Asian, Arab, West Indian, and African seamen in port cities, both groups having been involved in wartime activities. This conflict resulted in violent riots in 1919 in Liverpool, Cardiff, Glasgow, and South Shields, leading to casualties.

Question 32

How did various groups target immigrants throughout different periods in history?

Answer 32

Various groups targeted immigrants during different historical periods. The British Union of Fascists (‘Blackshirts’) in the 1930s focused on Jews, while the National Front in the 1970s and 1980s targeted black and Asian people. In the early 2000s, the British National Party and the English Defence League campaigned against British Muslims.

Question 33

What was the consequence of the activity of groups like the British Union of Fascists, the National Front, and the British National Party?

Answer 33

Where these groups were active, incidents of hate crime against immigrants and minority groups rose, contributing to social tension and conflict.

Question 34

What was a common experience for black people in the 1950s and 1960s regarding employment and housing?

Answer 34

In the 1950s and 1960s, black people often faced daily racism, being denied jobs and accommodation. Signs reading ‘No dogs, No blacks, No Irish’ epitomized the discrimination they encountered.

Question 35

Despite racial discrimination becoming illegal, what persisted in terms of reported incidents?

Answer 35

Despite racial discrimination becoming illegal, the number of reported racist incidents remained high, indicating ongoing societal challenges and prejudices.

Question 36

How did relations between the police and many black people evolve from the 1960s onwards?

Answer 36

From the 1960s onwards, relations between the police and many black people, particularly youth, deteriorated. Some black British people felt unfairly targeted and harassed by the police, with concerns about inadequate investigation of racist murders and deaths in police custody.

Question 37

What effect did speeches by Enoch Powell in 1968 and Margaret Thatcher in 1978 have on public opinion?

Answer 37

Speeches by Enoch Powell in 1968 and Margaret Thatcher in 1978 criticizing immigration levels polarized public opinion, leading to a rise in the number of people expressing anti-immigrant views.

Question 38

What were some responses to the challenges faced by immigrant communities in the UK over the years?

Answer 38

Responses included community organization and self-help, industrial action, activism, defense organization, uprisings or riots, mass movements, heritage initiatives, and political representation.

Question 39

What role did community organization play in addressing challenges?

Answer 39

Community organizations like the League of Coloured People in the 1920s and 1930s organized events and supported members facing discrimination. Most migrant communities also have their own support groups, often centered around places of worship.

Question 40

Can you provide examples of industrial action taken by immigrant workers?

Answer 40

Immigrant workers, often led by women, took strike action against exploitation at work. Examples include the strikes at Grunwick photo processing works in 1976 and Imperial Typewriters in Leicester in 1974.

Question 41

How did activism contribute to change?

Answer 41

Activism led to significant changes, such as the Bristol bus boycott in 1963 and the campaign for justice following the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993, which resulted in an inquiry into institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police.

Question 42

What were some examples of defense organization in response to racist threats?

Answer 42

Examples include the ‘Battle of Cable Street’ in 1936, where Jews and non-Jews stopped a fascist march in East London, and the response to racist murders in Southall in 1976 and Tower Hamlets in 1978.

Question 43

How did mass movements address the rise of racism?

Answer 43

Mass movements like the Anti-Nazi League and the Anti Racist-Alliance organized against the National Front. Rock Against Racism’s events in the late 1970s united black and white young people in opposition to racism through music.

Question 44

What efforts have been made to preserve migrant community heritage?

Answer 44

Many migrant communities have collected documents, photographs, and oral histories supported by museums and archives, resulting in dedicated heritage centers like the Jewish Museum and the Black Cultural Archives.

Question 45

What progress has been made in terms of political representation for black and minority ethnic communities?

Answer 45

After the 2015 General Election, there were 42 black and minority ethnic MPs in the House of Commons, reflecting increased political representation compared to earlier years.

Question 46

How have immigrants and their descendants influenced the identity of Britain since the 1940s?

Answer 46

Since the 1940s, immigrants and their descendants have integrated into communities across the UK, contributing to the shaping of Britain’s identity and redefining the concept of ‘Britishness’ in today’s society.

Question 47

What has been the trend in net migration since the 1940s?

Answer 47

Net migration has continued to rise, reaching 300,000 in 2015. However, immigrants made up less than 25% of the workforce, and in 2011, just over 12% of the UK’s population were foreign-born.

Question 48

How has the process of integration compared between recent migrant groups and historical migrant groups?

Answer 48

Similar to historical migrant groups like Flemish, Huguenot, Jewish, Irish, and Italian, recent migrant groups have integrated into the wider population over time, especially in parts of the UK like London.

Question 49

What improvements have been observed in cultural diversity in various occupations?

Answer 49

Although inequalities in employment persist, most occupations are far more culturally diverse than in the past, reflecting greater integration of ethnic minorities into the workforce.

Question 50

How has educational achievement among different ethnic groups changed over time?

Answer 50

While black children were the lowest achievers in schools at the end of the 20th century, by 2013, white working-class children became the lowest achievers according to Ofsted annual reports, indicating a shift in educational disparities.

Question 51

What events highlighted the segregation in certain parts of Britain?

Answer 51

The 2000 and 2001 riots between white and Asian young people in Oldham, Burnley, and Bradford indicated the extent of segregation in parts of Britain, reflecting tensions between different communities.

Question 52

How did negative media coverage affect perceptions of immigration?

Answer 52

Negative stories about immigrants in the popular press often exaggerated the scale of immigration, leading many to believe that numbers were higher than they were.

Question 53

What did a 2014 report by the Economic and Social Research Council conclude about societal attitudes towards British society?

Answer 53

A 2014 report by the Economic and Social Research Council concluded that most people hold positive views about British society and their own cultural identity, despite negative media coverage about immigration.