GCSE-ready- Home
- Lessons
- GCSE & IGCSE History
- Migration in modern Britain, c1900 to present
Migration in modern Britain, c1900 to present
🎬 The doodle video for this lesson is coming soon. Subscribe on YouTube to see it first.
Two world wars, the end of Empire and membership of the EU brought new migrants, new laws, and campaigns for equal rights.
Context and laws
The Aliens Act (1905) was the first major law to control immigration.
Refugees came in both world wars, including Jewish children on the Kindertransport (1938 to 39).
The British Nationality Act (1948) gave people across the Empire and Commonwealth the right to live in Britain. The Empire Windrush arrived in 1948.
The Commonwealth Immigrants Act (1962) began to restrict this. Later, EU membership brought free movement of workers.
Refugees came in both world wars, including Jewish children on the Kindertransport (1938 to 39).
The British Nationality Act (1948) gave people across the Empire and Commonwealth the right to live in Britain. The Empire Windrush arrived in 1948.
The Commonwealth Immigrants Act (1962) began to restrict this. Later, EU membership brought free movement of workers.
Experiences
Migrants filled labour shortages, for example in the NHS and transport, but faced discrimination in housing and jobs.
The Race Relations Act (1965) banned discrimination in public places; a 1968 Act extended this to housing and employment.
There were both anti-immigration campaigns and equal rights movements, and the media shaped attitudes.
The Race Relations Act (1965) banned discrimination in public places; a 1968 Act extended this to housing and employment.
There were both anti-immigration campaigns and equal rights movements, and the media shaped attitudes.
Case studies
Bristol: in 1963 the Bristol Bus Boycott, led by Paul Stephenson and others, protested against the bus company's refusal to employ Black and Asian crews. The company backed down in August 1963. The St Pauls Carnival began in 1968.
Leicester: Asian migrants arrived from India and later from East Africa, especially after Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda in 1972. Leicester's council placed an advert in Uganda discouraging people from coming, yet many settled and built businesses, for example along Belgrave Road.
Leicester: Asian migrants arrived from India and later from East Africa, especially after Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda in 1972. Leicester's council placed an advert in Uganda discouraging people from coming, yet many settled and built businesses, for example along Belgrave Road.
Explain the importance of the Bristol Bus Boycott.
- It challenged a company's open colour bar in employment.
- The boycott succeeded when the company backed down in August 1963.
- It helped build support for the Race Relations Act of 1965.
Answer: It defeated a colour bar and added pressure for anti-discrimination law.
Aliens Act 1905; Kindertransport; British Nationality Act 1948; Windrush 1948; Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962; Race Relations Acts 1965 and 1968; EU free movement. Bristol Bus Boycott 1963; Ugandan Asians in Leicester 1972.
Check you have got it
Answer 6 quick questions with instant marking. If you get one wrong, GCSE-ready shows you why and gives you another go. It is free, and you do not need an account.