Starter quiz
- Why did Britain turn to its colonies to find soldiers during World War One (WW1)?
- British men refused to fight.
- They needed to vastly expand their army. ✓
- Many colonies already had standing armies. ✓
- The war took place in the colonies.
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- How many soldiers from the colonies fought for Britain?
- '3 million' ✓
- Why did many British citizens become hostile towards demobilised black and Asian troops?
- They were in competition for the best-paid jobs.
- There was not enough employment. ✓
- There was not enough food.
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- What violent event occurred in Liverpool in June 1919?
- 'race riots' ✓
- What did the government introduce in 1925 which affected migration?
- Benefits for migrants who came to Britain
- The Special Restrictions Order ✓
- Checks to limit passports for Indian people
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- Where did migrants serve in the army during World War Two (WW2)?
- the frontlines ✓
- the countryside
- the inner cities
- the Home Front ✓
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Exit quiz
- How did Britain suffer after World War Two (WW2)?
- Parts of cities had been destroyed. ✓
- It was hit by extreme weather events.
- 70 000 civilians had been killed. ✓
- Many soldiers preferred to stay in Europe.
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- How many people were needed to rebuild Britain after WW2?
- 130 000
- 1.3 million ✓
- 13 million
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- What is the name of the international community made up of Britain and her former colonies?
- 'The Commonwealth' ✓
- Which European migrants to post-war Britain faced similar levels of discrimination to Caribbean migrants?
- 'Irish migrants' ✓
- Why did some Polish people in Britain not want to return to Poland after WW2?
- Britain refused to allow Poles to emigrate.
- Fear of communist persecution in Poland ✓
- Polish government bans on immigration.
- Few opportunities in Poland due to scale of destruction ✓
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- How did the British government support Polish migrants after WW2?
- passed the Polish Resettlement Act ✓
- gave Polish migrants free housing
- paid for their children to be privately educated
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- As a result of the damage caused by the Second World War, Britain was in need of 1.3 million workers.
- The 1948 Nationality Act increased the number of migrants from the Commonwealth.
- New laws were intended to encourage the migration of workers from predominantly white nations (e.g. Ireland and Poland).
- Although their migration was encouraged, migrants often faced prejudice and hostility on arriving in Britain.
Common misconception
All migrants from predominantly white nations were welcomed by authorities and local communities.
Although Irish migrants were encouraged to migrate, they often faced hostility on arriving in Britain. Like Caribbean migrants, many struggled to find suitable accommodation as landlords were unwilling to rent to them.
Keywords
Commonwealth - an international community made up of Britain and many of its former colonies
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