Unit L

• The population of Malta was about 100,000 in 1800, surpassed 250,000 after World War II, and rose to over 300,000 by 1960
• A quarter of the population lived in the harbour towns by 1921, leading to fast growth of harbour suburbs and rural villages
• From 1871 onwards, the younger generation migrated from villages in search of employment with the Colonial Government
• Employment with the British Services peaked in the inter-war period (1919-39) and declined after World War II
• In the 1950s and 1960s, the British started a gradual rundown of military personnel in their overseas colonies, including Malta
• Before the first rundown in 1957, the British Government still employed 27% of the Maltese workforce
• The Maltese first became attracted to emigration in the early 19th century
• Successful colonies of Maltese migrants were established in North African and Mediterranean ports
• Emigration to Mediterranean areas declined rapidly after World War II due to the birth of Arab nationalism
• After World War II, Maltese emigrants preferred to go to English-speaking countries like the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
• Post-war emigration to these countries reached an annual average peak of 5,000 between 1948-1966
• Mass emigration declined in the 1970s with the fast industrialization of Malta and the tightening of emigration laws by host countries
• The Maltese maintained a cool relationship with the British until the 1930s
• The Second World War brought about a change in mentality, bonding the British and Maltese closer together
• The standard of living in Malta increased after the 1850s, comparing favorably with other South European Mediterranean regions after World War II
• Living conditions improved after World War I, and more rapidly after World War II with the introduction of social legislation
• Improvements in communications during the British period had a profound effect on the life of all classes of Maltese
• Malta's population increased sharply in the 19th and 20th centuries
• From the 1870s, thousands of villagers went to live in the harbour towns
• The employment of Maltese in the British Services is called a rundown
• Before World War I, most Maltese emigrated to North African Arab countries
• Mass emigration from Malta declined with Independence in 1964
• The Maltese emigrants in source 1 were working in the British Services
• In most working-class homes in the early 1900s, tap water, kitchen, and bathroom were missing
• Two events that helped to improve living standards of the Maltese working class were:

  • Introduction of public transport
  • Development of sanitation and water supply
• The low standard of living of the working classes was reflected in housing, wages, literacy, and health
• The introduction of public transport improved the life of the Maltese by providing better mobility and access to different areas
• In the 19th and early 20th century, the Maltese lower classes faced bad sanitation due to:

  • Lack of water drainage in towns
  • Insufficient ventilation in homes
  • Reluctance to wash
  • Sewerage achieved through dropping refuse and sewer matter under the house
• Governor Hastings in 1826 blamed the Maltese for their lack of 'enterprise'

  • The French Consul in 1840 noted that the Maltese were more inclined to imitate others
  • The Royal Commission of 1836 blamed the Government for the poor state of affairs
• Source A is a PRIMARY source because it was written by Charles A. Price in 1954, providing firsthand accounts or original data
• Parts of source B are enclosed between quotation marks to indicate direct quotes from historical figures or documents
• Changes in the 19th and 20th century that led to improvements in poor living conditions:

  • Introduction of street cleansing services
  • Development of underground sewage systems
  • Implementation of fresh water supply projects
  • Construction of hospitals for public health