Society in the 1970s - Race Relations

Question 1

Following the Conservative victory in 1970 what exerted significant influence?

Answer 1

• Powellism - in ref to Enoch Powell
• (at a time when Britain was proclaiming to end immigration restrictions on all citizens of Common Market countries once it joined EEC)

Question 2

What was the immigration act and when ?

Answer 2

• passed 1971 operative from 1973
• Commonwealth citizens with patrial status allowed unrestricted entry into UK
• entry for those without this needed work permit
• Permit did not grant rights and all permits subject to possibility of no-renewal
• With economy heading for recession the prospect for race relations was a disturbing one

Question 3

What happened with the Ugandan Asians?

Answer 3

• 1973 Military dictator Idi Amin announced a dream instructed him to give ugandan asains three months to emigrate
• 50, 000 Asians
• Under the 1968 quota, 3000 were allowed to enter Britain in any one year
• Gov set up Ugandan resettlement Board using military camps as holding centres + linking with volunteer groups
• 28,000 came in + 30,000 new jobs created

Question 4

By 1974 how many immigrants had arrived in Britain?

Answer 4

• By 1974 over 1 million new Commonwealth immigrants had come to Britain:
• 325,000 from the West Indies
• 435,000 from India and Pakistan
• 150,000 from Africa
• Their political representation in areas where they lived remained limited

Question 5

What did Mark Bonham-Carter warn?

Answer 5

• In 1976 Mark Bonham-Carter, Chairman of the Community Relations Commissions, warned that Briton’s black community - 40% of whom were now born in the country - would not settle for second-class citizenship

Question 6

What act did Callaghan pass to try and tackle race issues?

Answer 6

• 1976 Race Relations Act
• made discrimination unlawful in education, training, employment and provision of goods and services
• Also made it an offence to stir up racial hatred
• it replaced those of 1965 and 1968
• New body, Race Relations Commissions replaced earlier bodies
• Bill passed with all-party support

Question 7

What was the support of the national front like?

Answer 7

• Popularity grew in 1970s
• up to 20,000 members by 1976
• 1977 was described as Britain’s 4th largest political party
• Growth of NF indicated ongoing concern over immigration

Question 8

What response did the growth of the NF produce by the main political parties?

Answer 8

• By late 1970s, the Conservative Party announced that they would toughen up immigration policy even further
• Some people complained they were appealing to radicals
• TV interview in 1978 when Thatcher promised to limit immigration, the Conservative Party opened up an 11 point lead in the polls

Question 9

What were the strategies of the National Front?

Answer 9

• hold marches and demonstrations, particularly in areas where there were high levels of immigrants living
• considered provocative and were often marked by violence
• The Trades Council of East London gave details of over 100 incidents including 2 murders between 1976 and August 1978

Question 10

How were skinheads involved in the National Front?

Answer 10

• Some were attracted to National Front ideas
• They were often behind violent attacks on people from other ethnic backgrounds - what was sometimes called ‘paki bashing’

Question 11

How did people fight against these groups and racist attitudes?

Answer 11

• Pressure Group, the Ant-Nazi League was set up in 1977, in part to combat this
• Rock Against Racism started as a reaction to comments made by rock guitarist Eric Clapton in support of Enoch Powell
• Huge demonstration and concert in Trafalgar Square 1978 attracted 100,000 people

Question 12

Describe the racism within the police force in the 1970s?

Answer 12

• Attitudes within the police ‘canteen culture’ shared many features with the National Front
• Many resented Race Relations legislation
• In 1976 only 70 police officers with a black or ethnic minority background in the Metropolitan Police out of a total workforce of 22,000
• Young black people felt police were harassing them unnecessarily

Question 13

What happened at the Notting Hill Carnival?

Answer 13

• In 1976
• Erupted into a riot where over 300 people were injured and following this there were calls to ban the event
• (highlighted racism)

Question 14

How many people arrested by the ‘sus’ law were black?

Answer 14

• over 50%

Question 15

What happened to Blair Peach?

Answer 15

• Suspicions regarding police attitudes were highlighted by events such as the death of Blair Peach in 1979
• teacher and Ant-Nazi League supporter killed in demonstration
• The Metropolitan Police finally admitted responsibility for his death in 2010

Question 16

How were black relations progressing within culture and sport?

Answer 16

• Black footballers such as Viv Anderson became increasingly common on the pitch
• Regae and ska music became increasingly popular

Question 17

How were black relations not progressing within culture and sport?

Answer 17

• Football terraces were also scenes of overt racism with fans making monkey noises and throwing banana skins at black players
• Comedians still felt able to make racist jokes

Question 18

What were class divisions like in the 1970s?

Answer 18

• The lines between different classes were less firm than they had ever been
• upper classes continued to have secure hold on political and financial power
• many workers described themselves as middle classed based upon income rather than aims, education and aspiration

Question 19

How was social inequality changing?

Answer 19

• In 1974 elections 72% of non-white vote went to labour and only 17% to conservatives
• Class was being openly discussed and ironically no longer the supreme factor of social inequality
• Race became a potent cause of inequality

Question 20

What were problems for the immigrant population?

Answer 20

• appalling housing, high unemployment, and lack of job opportunities
• complicated relationship between immigrants and police