Immigration in Britain: 1935-1975

1939 - the war was still going
1. 1941-42 - large numbers of GIs arriving; when america entered the war
  1. 3million arriving in Britain and settled in military bases
American GIs
1. they were generally well welcomed by British people
  1. They were popular with girls
    1. 80,000 women married GIs, they were known as 'GI Brides'
2. Had lot of money
3. Had things
4. Glamorous
5. There was segregation in the south of America - the laws made sure that black and white people couldn't mix.
  1. US soldiers were in segregated units
    1. most of the American soldiers were white
  2. as there was no segregation in Britain it was liberating for the black soldiers.
    1. this created tension between the Americans about the racial lines
During the war other people came to live in Britain
1. Commonwealth troops
  1. Canada
  2. Australia
  3. New Zealand
  4. Africans
  5. Indians
  6. West Indies
  7. They were well treated and well liked by the British Women
2. Poles
  1. invaded by Germany
  2. Britain went to war because of them
    1. This meant that the government were nice to Poles
  3. Were treated well
  4. Many joined the Army
  5. They were not classed as British citizens
    1. were treated as if they were still on military service
3. Prisoners of War
  1. German
    1. 25,000 german PoWs stayed in the UK after the war
  2. Italian
  3. Treated as was to be expected
    1. Were treated well by British civilians
  4. given rations and a small wage for their labour
The Windrush
1. symbolic of immigration in Britain
  1. Was used in a positive and negative way to symbolise immigration
2. Ship that sailed from Jamaica to England
  1. Many people came to find jobs
  2. Many people from Jamaica and the West Indies the year before
3. the arrival of the ship was caught on camera
  1. it was one of the first big influxes of immigrants to have done so
  2. They were met by a small group of people with placards saying 'Go Home!'
4. Who were the immigrants
  1. Young single men going and settling and sending money back home
    1. Pictures show that they were well dressed, may she that they wanted to be well received
  2. many were well educated and had good skills
  3. They were excited and a bit apprehensive
  4. more immigrants came from Ireland
5. Reasons to come to the UK
  1. Britain was a global power
  2. people were fleeing from debt
  3. many wanted to find 'glory'(mainly through sports)
  4. looking fro work and an adventure
  5. Sugar trade in the West Indies had collapsed
  6. Labour shortage in the 40s and 50s
  7. Success stories of previous immigrants
  8. Ex-servicemen
  9. To send money home
  10. To give children a British education
  11. Join the transport service
    1. there was a big push for immigrants from the transport service
      1. their fares were even paid for
  12. Promise of a less rigid racial hierarchy
  13. Catering
  14. To work in the health service
    1. The newly created NHS needed nurses
  15. No opportunities back home
  16. There was an admiration for Great Britain, people saw it as a prestigious place to live
  17. IT WAS THE MOTHER COUNTRY
    1. This meant it was a natural draw for people from countries that used to be a part of the British empire
    2. People also felt an alliance to it
Other reasons for immigration
1. in Kenya
  1. Jomo Kenyatta gave British asians two years to leave Kenya in 1967
    1. 20,000 Asian-Kenyans came to London
    2. Jomo Kenyatta was the first president of Kenya after it gained independence
2. Uganda
  1. Idi Amin, dictator of Uganda
  2. Idi Amin forced Ugandan-asians out of Uganda
    1. 50,000 Ugandan-asains came to Britain
  3. It was WORSE in Uganda than in Kenya
Immigrants
1. prepared to work for lower wages
2. Many were not on welfare: if you are an asylum seeker you cannot claim benefits
3. In the 1950s over half of the west indians working in England were overqualified for their jobs

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Immigration in Britain: 1935-1975

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	Created by Kiya Bhayani about 9 years ago