THEME 3: The impact of the Second World War and new Commonwealth immigration; 1939-1958

Question 1

Impact of War

Answer 1

• Migrant workers crucial to war effort - Indian Army = 2 million.
• Still much prejudice - govt propaganda encouraged whites from NZ and Oz.
• Black soldiers were discouraged from joining up.
• War opened up new opportunities for Black and Asian people in Britain. Eg, education and training offered to all ex-servicemen.

Question 2

Constantine vs Imperial Hotel

Answer 2

• Learie Constantine: Trinidadian cricketer
  
  • Refused entry into London’s Imperial Hotel in 1944 due to American guests.
• Wins a legal victory - Govt officials welcomed his legal victory.
• Started to normalise the concept that black Britons had the same legal rights as white Britons.

Question 3

British Nationality Act (1948)

Answer 3

• Cause: Serious labour shortage post-war - Britain needed to be rebuilt.
• The act gave citizens of the commonwealth the right to migrate to Britain. Ushered in a major period of mass migration in the UK’s history.
• Population change: Asian and Caribbean communities grew from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.
  India and pakistani population: 1959 = 462,000 (1939 = 9,600).

Question 4

Opportunities for migrants 1948 -

Answer 4

• Economy in the 1950s grew. Immigrants found opportunities to make money and find employment.
• NHS recruited 3,000 nurses from the Caribbean - 1948-1954.
• Guyanese entrepreneur (Dr Mooksang) opened nightclub in London.

Question 5

Govt Reactions 1948 -

Answer 5

• Neither Attlee nor Churchill welcomed ‘coloured’ immigration. Both discouraged it (Churchill 1955 = ‘Keep Britain White’ slogan idea.)
• 1960s and 1970s: several Immigration acts to curb ‘coloured immigration:
  
  • Commonwealth Immigration Act, 1962
  • Commonwealth Immigration Act, 1968
  • The Immigration Act, 1971

Question 6

Racist reaction - Attitudes 1948 -

Answer 6

• Letters to MPs complaining about black and asian immigration:
  
  • Buying houses
  • Claiming welfare benefits
  • Getting jobs
• Physical violence - Notting Hill Riots of 1958
• Race riots demonstrated prejudice and racism in 1950s Britain. Showed passive institutional racism from police.

Question 7

Notting Hill Riots, 1958

Answer 7

• August to September 1958
• Mobs of between 300 and 700 armed white men beat black residents, and attacked houses and businesses.
• Slogans: “We will kill blacks” and “Keep Britain White!”.
• Police did little.