Race and post-war migration policy

Question 1

Why was the windrush generation so key to rebuilding Britain?

Answer 1

The UK had a lack of key and sufficient workers due to the losses in WW2, therefore they needed to get immigrants in to rebuild the country.

Question 2

How many workers did Britain need to rebuild?

Answer 2

943,000

Question 3

What was the working population reduced to after the War?

Answer 3

1.8 million

Question 4

Why was the working population reduced?

Answer 4

Many women went back to their traditional roles of being the workers in the home and not in the factory.

Question 5

Why weren’t people able to retire after the war?

Answer 5

Old people were needed to work essential roles still due to the lack of key workers, this was espicially prevalent in the police force.

Question 6

Between 1946-59 how many people came to work in Britian from Northern Ireland?

Answer 6

300,000

Question 7

What did the government report say about the working state of West Indian men?

Answer 7

The report stated that they couldnt work outdoors in the winter as they were susceptible to the cold. In the same review they were also classed as lazy and unreliable. This was the start of instutionalised racism.

Question 8

By the end of the 1950s how short of workers were the UK?

Answer 8

The UK were 1.5 million workers short.

Question 9

What jobs did many of the windrush generation occupy during WW2?

Answer 9

Many were in the Navy, airforce or worked in wartime factories. They werent going to the UK they were returning instead.

Question 10

Why did Churhcill and Attlee prefer eastern european men over West Indie men?

Answer 10

1. They were white
   2.They could be assimilated better and quicker.
   3.They thought they could be trusted more and weren’t lazy