Migrants to Britain OCR B history

• The British government passed the Immigration Act of 1962 which placed restrictions on East African migrants.
• Immigration was seen as a threat by some sections of society who believed that it would lead to unemployment and lower wages
• By 1980, there were over 5 million immigrants living in Britain
• In 1973, the UK joined the European Economic Community (EEC) allowing free movement of people from other EEC countries
• Enoch Powell gave his 'Rivers of Blood' speech in April 1968 where he warned about the dangers of immigration and how it would lead to violence between races.
• In the 1970s, Britain experienced economic decline which led to the growth of anti-immigration sentiments among the native population.
• This act meant that immigrants had to have a job offer or be able to support themselves financially
• In 1965, the Race Relations act was passed which made it illegal to refuse someone housing or employment because of their race
• In 1968, Britain imposed further restrictions on South Asians through an act which required citizens of New Commonwealth countries to have a work voucher before entry.
• In 1962, the Commonwealth Immigrants Act restricted immigration from the Caribbean
• The government introduced the Commonwealth Immigrant Act (1962) which meant that immigrants from the commonwealth had to have a job waiting for them
• The government was worried about the impact on British jobs, wages and housing
• In 1973, Britain joined the European Economic Community (EEC) which allowed free movement of people from other EEC countries into Britain
• Many Britons were unhappy with this because they felt that immigrants took jobs away from them
• Some politicians used anti-immigrant rhetoric to gain support from voters
• In 1973, Britain joined the European Economic Community (EEC) which allowed free movement of people between member states
• Many Asian communities settled in areas with existing ethnic populations such as London's East End or Bradford
• Asian communities often faced prejudice and hostility from white Britons due to their different culture and religion
• Some Asians experienced violence and attacks from far-right groups like the National Front
• The National Front was founded in 1967 and aimed to stop non-white immigration into Britain
• Powell's speech led to an increase in support for the National Front party
• The National Front gained support due to fears about rising crime rates and the impact of immigration on jobs and housing
• The National Front party gained support during this time due to its strong stance against immigration.
• The Immigration Act 1971 also introduced restrictions on the number of immigrants allowed into the country each year
• In 1962, the Commonwealth Immigrants Act was introduced by Harold Macmillan which restricted the number of immigrants coming to Britain from the Caribbean
• The Race Relations Board was set up under the Race Relations Act 1968 to investigate complaints of discrimination and take legal action where necessary
• The Race Relations Act 1965 made it illegal to discriminate against someone because of their race when providing goods, facilities, services, education, employment, or housing
• The Race Relations Act 1968 required local authorities to consult with minority communities when making decisions that affected them
• The Race Relations Act 1968 established the Community Relations Commission (CRC) to promote good relations between different ethnic groups
• The Race Relations Act 1968 extended these provisions to cover public places such as restaurants, cinemas, and shops
• This act meant that people who had been born outside of the UK could only enter if they already had family members living there or were being sponsored by their employer
• In 1980, the Conservative government passed the British Nationality Act which gave citizenship rights to people born in Britain who had at least one parent or grandparent born there
• Many politicians condemned the National Front as racists and fascists, but some argued that they represented legitimate concerns about immigration.
• This success caused widespread fear among British people who were worried that the National Front would gain power at national level.