Windrush Flashcards
Give 4 reasons why they the west indies would have wanted to move over.
Life was very hard in the Caribbean’s in the 1940’s
There had been a devastating hurricane in 1944
There was no tourist industry and the price of sugar (their main export) was at an all time low.
They seeked better opportunities.
On what date did the Empire Windrush first arrive in Tilbury Docks (London)?
22 June 1948
In 1948 what did Britain still have?
They still had an empire (a collection of nation around the world that Britain controlled).
What was Britain known as to the west indies and the countries that had been in the British empire?
The Mother Country
Out of all the countries why did they decide to go to Britain?
In 1948 parliament passed the British Nationality Act (this meant that the people of the British Empire were British passport holders and were allowed to enter and settle , live and work, in the country and become a British citizens, they were known as the commonwealth. Also because they saw this as a great opportunity as they had considered themselves as being very British (as they brought up speaking English and many named after english heroes and being educated to believe in the Queen and the country) Because they lacked many workers to help run the transport system, postal service and hospitals.
Before the Empire Windrush had arrived what were the politicians demanding and what was on the newspapers?
Politicians were demanding thats the ship is turned around and sent back and on the newspapers were full of stories about the ‘colour problem’ that was heading towards the British shore.
How was their experience in Britain?
Not all of the British people welcomed them, and many West Indies found out that the colour of their skin provoked hostile reactions. Some found good jobs but many didn’t good jobs and had difficulties with finding places to live and with income (wealth). They would often encounter openly racist signs put up by landlords “No Irish, No Black, No dogs”. This prejudice then led to ‘black areas’ being built in some of Britain’s major cities.
Describe the violence and riots that were caused.
On occasions there would have been outbreaks of violence in areas were there were large numbers of West Indies lived. For example in 1958 in Nottingham and in Notting Hill,London were there were several weeks of violence because white youths were attacking black youths on the streets, at nightclubs and their homes.
What amount of Britons disagreed with mixed marriages.
2/3 of them
Give some positives (aspects of life) the Windrush Generation had.
- They weren’t disappointed with how England looked.
- Able to get jobs and earn wages
- Many were “serious minded” anxious to succeed.
- Many were winning prizes and doing well
- They were British subjects
- They all found jobs and settled in
- Well dressed
- The contribution they had made to Britain society and culture was huge.
Give some negative (aspects of life) the Windrush Generation had.
- Many people in England though of them as lower class and many were racist.
- Some had been bad at working
- Not all Britons had welcomed Britain’s newest citizens
- Many, no matter their qualifications, ended up working in low paid jobs
- There were lots of violence and riots in areas were there were high numbers of West Indices, living.
